SMART SPECIALIZATION AS A WAY OF STRENGTHENING THE INNOVATION POTENTIAL OF REGIONS

The subject of the work is the concept of smart specialization adopted in the European Union in 2010 and particularly its implementation in Poland. The aim of this work is to identify and present the concept of smart specialization and the rationale for its establishment and define the role of this concept as a tool to strengthen the innovative potential of the regions in Poland. The material was taken from the European Union documents and adopted by the regional governments in Poland strategies developed for 2014-2020. The paper presents the origins, theoretical basis and essence of the concept of smart specialization, there is discussed the role of smart specialization in creating strategies and development policies and strengthening the innovation capacity of countries and regions and proposed by the Polish regions smart specializations for 2014-2020. Smart specialization programs in Poland are on the one hand a reaction to the possibility of obtaining funds from the European Union, on the other hand a new opportunity for the real reconstruction of standard strategy of regional development.