Strategic Pathways to Prosperity: Unleashing Sustainable Development through Smart Specialisation Strategies in Lagging Regions – A Case Study of Calabria, Italy

This study examines the transformative impact of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) on economic development, using Southern Italy's Calabria region as a case study. In response to dynamic challenges faced by underperforming regions, the investigation explores the adoption and tailored implementation of S3 frameworks, designed to exploit local strengths, stimulate innovation, and propel sustainable growth. Emphasizing collaborative governance, technology transfer, and stakeholder engagement, the study illuminates the intricate dynamics crucial for effectively leveraging smart specialisation to rejuvenate struggling areas. Prioritizing key sectors, notably Cultural and Creative Industries identified as potential economic drivers, the strategy aims to foster innovation and enhance global competitiveness. The findings significantly contribute to regional development discourse, offering a nuanced understanding of how S3 strategically unlocks untapped potential, ushering in prosperity in previously marginalized areas. At the urban level, the manuscript underscores the pivotal role of the business environment and innovation spaces in S3 implementation, facilitating knowledge flows and contributing to specialized niches. Highlighting the Quadruple Helix model involving administrations, universities, companies, and citizens as innovation users, the study emphasizes synergies and knowledge spillovers. In conclusion, the manuscript advocates for a paradigm shift in policy thinking towards innovation-driven economic and social change, emphasizing a place-based approach, understanding regional specificities, and leveraging local assets to foster extensive innovation capacities and stimulate growth. The Calabria case study underscores the potential of Cultural and Creative Industries in steering regional economic development and highlights the necessity for tailored, bottom-up S3 aligned with Sustainable Development Goals, promoting inclusive and sustainable prosperity.