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Regional Innovation Policy Processes: Linking Learning to Action

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Abstract

The starting point for this paper is the concept of constructing regional advantage (CRA). In the future, it will not be practical to assume that competitive advantage can be created by simply having the relevant actors in place. On the contrary, it will need to be consciously and proactively constructed. This implies a new, more dynamic role for the public sector in general, and for government and governance in particular in terms of interaction with the private sector. The paper approaches the regional innovation policy process as part of the process of constructing regional advantage. The policy process is interpreted as a learning process in which governments and other regional actors such as firms or universities can develop the capabilities to construct regional advantage. This paper focuses on the following research questions: (1) What determines the potential of a policy learning process to construct regional advantage? (2) How can policy learning be organized to help construct regional advantage? The case study of EG (a policy network in the Basque Country) is used to illustrate the main concepts involved.

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Notes

  1. Within this approach, innovation is seen as a knowledge output that is influenced by three factors: uncertainty of the innovation process, lack of appropriability of knowledge (in the case of a “public” good), and indivisibilities, which lead to market failures when firms do not want to invest in non-excludable goods; these justify government intervention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Basque Institute of Competitiveness, University of Deusto, Mundaiz 50, 20012, San Sebastián, Spain

    Mari Jose Aranguren & Miren Larrea

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  1. Mari Jose Aranguren
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  2. Miren Larrea
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Correspondence to Miren Larrea.

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Aranguren, M.J., Larrea, M. Regional Innovation Policy Processes: Linking Learning to Action. J Knowl Econ 2, 569–585 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-011-0068-1

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