Industry and innovation in the Alto Minho region: assessing regional performance

Abstract

As a tool, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) guide local and regional leaders in developing policy approaches for better social development. SDGs are 17 ambitious objectives towards a greener, healthier, more peaceful and equal planet, promoted by the United Nations to achieve by 2030. Having this performance in mind, countries and regions can measure their level of SDG implementation and rethink how they could promote prosperity, cooperation among regions and progress. This study focuses on SDG-9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure in ten municipalities of the Alto Minho region, Portugal. The main idea is to assess the level of each municipality in the achievement of the indicators related to this SDG. The similarities and differences between the municipalities can underline areas for joint efforts or investments in the development policy. This paper selected a performance analysis as a tool for informing on the amount of effort required to achieve SDG-9 at a local level, i.e., the Alto Minho region in the north of Portugal. If the trend of evolution is maintained, only Viana do Castelo will reach the full range of indicators for SDG-9, and Caminha will have 50 % of the indicators achieved. The remaining municipalities will reach at least half of the indicators, thus achieving a value lower than half of the target value. This approach could be replicated in other SDGs and other regions. This assessment allows the region's stakeholders to indicate areas of required action to achieve the SDG.