Sustainable Regional Restructuring
Insights from Economic Geography and Regional Innovation Studies
Published on 6. June 2025
Book
Hardback
226 pages
978-1-0353-3078-2 (ISBN)
Description
This incisive book presents conceptual and empirical insights to illustrate how regions can adopt sustainable industry practices in response to climate change. Contributing authors assess regional restructuring from multiple angles, examining case studies and empirical evidence.
Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the book features contributions from economic geography and regional innovation studies that provide an approachable overview of the subject, and proposes fresh development strategies and policies to support sustainable transformations. Chapters demonstrate the role of culture in sustainable regional restructuring and shed light on industries such as salmon farming, oil and gas as examples of adaptive capacity and agency. They address regional green initiatives and digital transitions in local businesses, outlining workforce adaptation and challenge oriented regional innovation systems as concepts warranting further research.
An essential read for students and academics in economic geography and regional innovation studies, this book will also greatly benefit policymakers, practitioners and professionals interested in sustainable regional restructuring and development, including agencies and non-government organisations.
Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the book features contributions from economic geography and regional innovation studies that provide an approachable overview of the subject, and proposes fresh development strategies and policies to support sustainable transformations. Chapters demonstrate the role of culture in sustainable regional restructuring and shed light on industries such as salmon farming, oil and gas as examples of adaptive capacity and agency. They address regional green initiatives and digital transitions in local businesses, outlining workforce adaptation and challenge oriented regional innovation systems as concepts warranting further research.
An essential read for students and academics in economic geography and regional innovation studies, this book will also greatly benefit policymakers, practitioners and professionals interested in sustainable regional restructuring and development, including agencies and non-government organisations.
Reviews / Votes
'This book contributes substantially to our understanding of sustainable regional restructuring, moving away from a narrow focus on green industrial development to a framework that encompasses social and economic challenges, as well as public benefits. This is a highly welcome volume that draws on theoretical and empirical work to develop an agenda for those academics and policy makers addressing the dynamics and challenges of regional sustainability challenges.' -- David Gibbs, University of Hull, UK 'This publication sits at the cutting edge of knowledge, simultaneously bringing to life contemporary debates on structure and agency while reminding the reader on how far work on regional restructuring has progressed. Its insights are both practical and conceptual, a "must have" for all with an interest in changing regions.' -- Andrew Beer, University of South Australia, AustraliaMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-3078-2 (9781035330782)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by James Karlsen and Jan Ole Rypestol, Department of Management and Innovation, University of Agder, Norway and Michaela Trippl, Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Austria, formerly University of Agder, Norway
Content
Contents
Preface xi
1 Sustainable Regional Restructuring: an introduction 1
James Karlsen, Jan Ole Rypestol and Michaela Trippl
2 Place-based transformative innovation policies 11
Michaela Trippl and Franz Toedtling
3 A plethora of transformative innovation policy tensions 27
Markku Sotarauta
4 On the role of culture for sustainable regional restructuring 42
Camilla Chlebna and Robert Hassink
5 Agency, skills and workforce adaptation 58
Stuart Dawley, Asbjorn Karlsen and Danny MacKinnon
6 Twenty years of regional innovation studies 74
Bjorn T. Asheim and Markus Grillitsch
7 Regional resilience: unpacking adaptive capacity and adaptive
action 92
Jan Ole Rypestol and Roman Martin
8 The role of agency for the shifting balance of economic,
environmental, and social sustainability in the history of the
Norwegian salmon farming industry 109
Stig-Erik Jakobsen and Arnt Floysand
9 Regional green initiatives in concert 128
Emelie Langemyr Eriksen and Jan Ole Rypestol
10 Regional restructuring in the Norwegian seafood industry 144
Monica Plechero and Heidi Wiig
11 Navigating grand challenges - the challenge of transforming
the petroleum sector in Norway 162
James Karlsen
12 Questioning the economic growth paradigm 178
Heike Mayer
13 Geographies of sustainable innovation and regional
restructuring: looking ahead 192
Michaela Trippl
Preface xi
1 Sustainable Regional Restructuring: an introduction 1
James Karlsen, Jan Ole Rypestol and Michaela Trippl
2 Place-based transformative innovation policies 11
Michaela Trippl and Franz Toedtling
3 A plethora of transformative innovation policy tensions 27
Markku Sotarauta
4 On the role of culture for sustainable regional restructuring 42
Camilla Chlebna and Robert Hassink
5 Agency, skills and workforce adaptation 58
Stuart Dawley, Asbjorn Karlsen and Danny MacKinnon
6 Twenty years of regional innovation studies 74
Bjorn T. Asheim and Markus Grillitsch
7 Regional resilience: unpacking adaptive capacity and adaptive
action 92
Jan Ole Rypestol and Roman Martin
8 The role of agency for the shifting balance of economic,
environmental, and social sustainability in the history of the
Norwegian salmon farming industry 109
Stig-Erik Jakobsen and Arnt Floysand
9 Regional green initiatives in concert 128
Emelie Langemyr Eriksen and Jan Ole Rypestol
10 Regional restructuring in the Norwegian seafood industry 144
Monica Plechero and Heidi Wiig
11 Navigating grand challenges - the challenge of transforming
the petroleum sector in Norway 162
James Karlsen
12 Questioning the economic growth paradigm 178
Heike Mayer
13 Geographies of sustainable innovation and regional
restructuring: looking ahead 192
Michaela Trippl