Since its first appearance in 2007, the concept of Smart Specialization has spread across Europe and become a favorable strategy for regional development. Smart Specialization is thus considered a ‘model that flows’ and has been adopted across very different contexts. However, recent discourse within the academic literature suggests that this model may not be universally suitable for all regions. In this paper, the timeline of Smart Specialization is traced through a literature review and document analysis, which is then used to explore why it has become a favorable policy for regional development across very different contexts. The analysis shows how Smart Specialization is constructed to flow and that institutional elements, such as isomorphism and legitimacy within the policy domain, have led to most European regions adopting Smart Specialization.
Stine Lien (Sun,) studied this question.