Research Handbook on Regions and Transformative Innovation Policy
Will be published approx. on 16. June 2026
Book
Hardback
476 pages
978-1-0353-0992-4 (ISBN)
Description
This insightful Research Handbook explores how regions across the world are rethinking and employing innovation to tackle emerging contemporary challenges. Drawing on transformative innovation policy (TIP), leading scholars demonstrate how innovation can be reoriented away from its exclusive focus on technology and competitiveness, and instead adopt a broader role as a strategic tool for guiding societies towards greener, more inclusive and resilient futures-without abandoning economic competitiveness.
By analysing diverse global case studies, from Europe's smart specialisation strategies to grassroots experiments in Latin America, state led initiatives in Asia and civic partnerships in North America, contributing authors outline the successes and obstacles in aligning innovation with societal needs. Chapters integrate theory and practice, combining cutting-edge conceptual advances with concrete policy experiences of implementing regional TIP. While paths to progress differ widely, this Research Handbook emphasises the universal importance of inclusive governance, long-term commitment and the willingness to experiment.
The Research Handbook on Regions and Transformative Innovation Policy is highly beneficial for scholars and students of economic geography, innovation studies, regional policy and development economics. It is equally relevant to policymakers and administrators in regional development agencies, international organisations and NGOs seeking practical insights into governance, inclusiveness and policy experimentation.
By analysing diverse global case studies, from Europe's smart specialisation strategies to grassroots experiments in Latin America, state led initiatives in Asia and civic partnerships in North America, contributing authors outline the successes and obstacles in aligning innovation with societal needs. Chapters integrate theory and practice, combining cutting-edge conceptual advances with concrete policy experiences of implementing regional TIP. While paths to progress differ widely, this Research Handbook emphasises the universal importance of inclusive governance, long-term commitment and the willingness to experiment.
The Research Handbook on Regions and Transformative Innovation Policy is highly beneficial for scholars and students of economic geography, innovation studies, regional policy and development economics. It is equally relevant to policymakers and administrators in regional development agencies, international organisations and NGOs seeking practical insights into governance, inclusiveness and policy experimentation.
Reviews / Votes
'An outstanding and much-needed Handbook that convincingly demonstrates why regions are truly critical arenas for transformative innovation policy. Its global perspective, conceptual depth, and empirical richness make it essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand and advance innovation, sustainability transitions, and place-based development strategies.' -- Michaela Trippl, University of Vienna, Austria 'The regional dimension of transformation processes is increasingly relevant, but our knowledge of innovation policy at this level remains limited. This Handbook presents broad, diverse, and creative evidence of experimentation on the design and implementation of transformative innovation policy at the regional level. It is essential reading for academics and policymakers in both the Global South and North.' -- Gabriela Dutrenit, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico 'This book serves as a historical testimony of the attempts to conceptualize phenomena at the crossroads of innovation policy, regional development, and social transformation. By examining technological, economic, social, institutional, and cultural dimensions - along with the role of human interactions - it also offers valuable insights for addressing challenges generated by AI.' -- Yuko HARAYAMA, Tohoku University, Japan 'This is a milestone Handbook, offering the most comprehensive treatment of transformative innovation policies. Its broad coverage convincingly fills the research gap on how such policies might influence regional development. Through the principles of TIP, the book insightfully highlights the differences and similarities among regions around the world.' -- Fulong Wu, University College London, UKMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-0992-4 (9781035309924)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Slavo Radosevic, Professor of Industry and Innovation Studies, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK, Sylvia Schwaag Serger, Professor of Research Policy, Department of Economic History, Lund University, Sweden and Luc Soete, Emeritus Professor of Economics, UNU-MERIT, School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
Content
Contents
PART I INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
1 Why a handbook on regions and transformative innovation policy? 2
Sylvia Schwaag Serger and Luc Soete
2 Introducing the chapters: an overview 9
Slavo Radosevic
PART II CONCEPTUAL CHALLENGES OF REGIONAL TRANSFORMATIVE
INNOVATION POLICY
3 Enhancing the sustainability dimension in smart specialisation strategies:
towards a framework for reflexive policy practice 29
Michal Miedzinski, Lars Coenen and Henrik Larsen
4 Exploring the governance challenge of regional transformative innovation
policies: a metagovernance perspective 53
Ainhoa Arrona and Edurne Magro
5 Transforming regions, change agency, and policy 69
Markus Grillitsch
6 From problems to opportunities: a place-based approach to transformative
innovation policy 87
Elvira Uyarra
PART III REGIONS IN THE TRANSFORMATION TO SUSTAINABILITY
7 From smart specialisation to smart transformation - (how) do regions
integrate transformative intentions in regional innovation priorities? 103
Sofia Avdeitchikova- and Anders Olsson
8 Embedding sustainability transitions in Catalonia's smart specialisation
strategy 120
Tatiana Fernandez Sirera and Michal Miedzinski
9 Conditions for sustainability transitions in Germany's peripheral regions: a
differentiated view on regional change agency 137
Henning Kroll, Max Roessler, Valeria Maruseva and Daniel Schiller
10 Sustainable foodscapes: the transformation of public food systems 155
Kevin Morgan
11 Unravelling innovation transition traps: the imperative of collective action 171
Peter Wostner, Anze Burger, Iztok Palcic and Sonja Slander Wostner
12 Contrasting pathways to regional transformative policies: bottom-up
approaches of a leading and latecomer region in Czechia 190
Jiri Blazek, Viktor Kveton, Vojtech Kadlec and Jan Pojsl
PART IV TRANSFORMATIVE REGIONAL INNOVATION POLICY GOES GLOBAL
13 Public-private partnerships and regional transformative innovation policy
in the US 211
Monica Novoa and Paige Clayton
14 Innovation and the states: the regional manifestations of the Endless
Frontier in the US Rust Belt 229
Ben Armstrong and Dan Traficonte
15 Regional entrepreneurial mentoring networks as transformative innovation
policy: insights from a semi-peripheral high tech hub 242
Darius Ornston and Isabelle Watkinson
16 The evolution of Korea's regional innovation system: the case of Daedeok
Innopolis 257
Hye-Ran Hwang and Jae-Yong Choung
17 Integrating 'Society 5.0' and regional revitalisation: Japan's path to
transformative innovation 278
Michiko Iizuka and Takayuki Hayashi
18 Latin America and transformative innovation policy 296
Matias Ramirez
19 The urban transformation of Medellin: confluence of innovation processes
and transformation limits 309
Jorge Robledo Velasquez, Walter Lugo Ruiz Castaneda and Maria
Luisa Villalba Morales
20 Strengthening inclusive innovation systems: analysis of the Western Cape's
economic development activities 328
Sara Grobbelaar
21 Green goals, strategic actions: China's experience with transformative
innovation policy 348
Hannah Yi Wei
22 Regional transformative innovation policy towards green development in
China 368
Zhen Yu and Lan Xue
23 Reorienting STI policy for transformative change: lessons from and for
India 381
Soutrik Basu
24 The less-than-one percent: how a few firms shape regional capabilities in
India 397
Nanditha Mathew and Emanuele Pugliese
PART V CONCLUSIONS AND ISSUES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
25 Transformative regional innovation policy globally: state of the art and
issues for future research 425
Slavo Radosevic
26 Epilogue 441
Sylvia Schwaag Serger and Luc Soete
PART I INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
1 Why a handbook on regions and transformative innovation policy? 2
Sylvia Schwaag Serger and Luc Soete
2 Introducing the chapters: an overview 9
Slavo Radosevic
PART II CONCEPTUAL CHALLENGES OF REGIONAL TRANSFORMATIVE
INNOVATION POLICY
3 Enhancing the sustainability dimension in smart specialisation strategies:
towards a framework for reflexive policy practice 29
Michal Miedzinski, Lars Coenen and Henrik Larsen
4 Exploring the governance challenge of regional transformative innovation
policies: a metagovernance perspective 53
Ainhoa Arrona and Edurne Magro
5 Transforming regions, change agency, and policy 69
Markus Grillitsch
6 From problems to opportunities: a place-based approach to transformative
innovation policy 87
Elvira Uyarra
PART III REGIONS IN THE TRANSFORMATION TO SUSTAINABILITY
7 From smart specialisation to smart transformation - (how) do regions
integrate transformative intentions in regional innovation priorities? 103
Sofia Avdeitchikova- and Anders Olsson
8 Embedding sustainability transitions in Catalonia's smart specialisation
strategy 120
Tatiana Fernandez Sirera and Michal Miedzinski
9 Conditions for sustainability transitions in Germany's peripheral regions: a
differentiated view on regional change agency 137
Henning Kroll, Max Roessler, Valeria Maruseva and Daniel Schiller
10 Sustainable foodscapes: the transformation of public food systems 155
Kevin Morgan
11 Unravelling innovation transition traps: the imperative of collective action 171
Peter Wostner, Anze Burger, Iztok Palcic and Sonja Slander Wostner
12 Contrasting pathways to regional transformative policies: bottom-up
approaches of a leading and latecomer region in Czechia 190
Jiri Blazek, Viktor Kveton, Vojtech Kadlec and Jan Pojsl
PART IV TRANSFORMATIVE REGIONAL INNOVATION POLICY GOES GLOBAL
13 Public-private partnerships and regional transformative innovation policy
in the US 211
Monica Novoa and Paige Clayton
14 Innovation and the states: the regional manifestations of the Endless
Frontier in the US Rust Belt 229
Ben Armstrong and Dan Traficonte
15 Regional entrepreneurial mentoring networks as transformative innovation
policy: insights from a semi-peripheral high tech hub 242
Darius Ornston and Isabelle Watkinson
16 The evolution of Korea's regional innovation system: the case of Daedeok
Innopolis 257
Hye-Ran Hwang and Jae-Yong Choung
17 Integrating 'Society 5.0' and regional revitalisation: Japan's path to
transformative innovation 278
Michiko Iizuka and Takayuki Hayashi
18 Latin America and transformative innovation policy 296
Matias Ramirez
19 The urban transformation of Medellin: confluence of innovation processes
and transformation limits 309
Jorge Robledo Velasquez, Walter Lugo Ruiz Castaneda and Maria
Luisa Villalba Morales
20 Strengthening inclusive innovation systems: analysis of the Western Cape's
economic development activities 328
Sara Grobbelaar
21 Green goals, strategic actions: China's experience with transformative
innovation policy 348
Hannah Yi Wei
22 Regional transformative innovation policy towards green development in
China 368
Zhen Yu and Lan Xue
23 Reorienting STI policy for transformative change: lessons from and for
India 381
Soutrik Basu
24 The less-than-one percent: how a few firms shape regional capabilities in
India 397
Nanditha Mathew and Emanuele Pugliese
PART V CONCLUSIONS AND ISSUES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
25 Transformative regional innovation policy globally: state of the art and
issues for future research 425
Slavo Radosevic
26 Epilogue 441
Sylvia Schwaag Serger and Luc Soete