Twenty years of regional innovation studies : from local–global to agency–structure
Asheim, Bjørn T. LU and Grillitsch, Markus LU
(2025)
In New horizons in regional science series
p.75-92
- Abstract
The chapter discusses the theoretical reorientation in economic geography over the last twenty years from a focus on structures, represented by regional innovation systems, to addressing the role of human agency in regional economic development, and reflects on what the two approaches can contribute to achieving sustainable regional restructuring. We are doing this by focusing on two articles – published in 2002 and 2022 – representing the two approaches. The 2002 article discusses the role of place-specific, local resources and external knowledge in strengthening the competitiveness and innovativeness of firms and regions. This perspective is still relevant in analyses and designs of regional innovation policies. However, a realisation... (More)
The chapter discusses the theoretical reorientation in economic geography over the last twenty years from a focus on structures, represented by regional innovation systems, to addressing the role of human agency in regional economic development, and reflects on what the two approaches can contribute to achieving sustainable regional restructuring. We are doing this by focusing on two articles – published in 2002 and 2022 – representing the two approaches. The 2002 article discusses the role of place-specific, local resources and external knowledge in strengthening the competitiveness and innovativeness of firms and regions. This perspective is still relevant in analyses and designs of regional innovation policies. However, a realisation of the shortcomings of a structural approach to explaining the variations of regional development outcomes in different types of regions has led to a more explicit focus on the importance of change agency in regional change processes, as articulated in the 2022 article.
(Less)
- author
- Asheim, Bjørn T.
LU
and Grillitsch, Markus
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-01-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Human change agency, Innovation policy, Local and global, Regional innovation systems, Regional restructuring, Sustainability challenges
- host publication
- Sustainable regional restructuring : insights from economic geography and regional innovation studies - insights from economic geography and regional innovation studies
- series title
- New horizons in regional science series
- editor
- Karlsen, James ; Rypestøl, Jan Ole and Trippl, Michaela
- pages
- 18 pages
- publisher
- Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105018164176
- ISBN
- 9781035330782
- 9781035330799
- DOI
- 10.4337/9781035330799.00013
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- c06514d2-6be7-48a1-b6d9-03138fb2b7f1
- date added to LUP
- 2025-11-20 19:46:54
- date last changed
- 2025-12-04 21:00:30
@inbook{c06514d2-6be7-48a1-b6d9-03138fb2b7f1,
abstract = {{<p>The chapter discusses the theoretical reorientation in economic geography over the last twenty years from a focus on structures, represented by regional innovation systems, to addressing the role of human agency in regional economic development, and reflects on what the two approaches can contribute to achieving sustainable regional restructuring. We are doing this by focusing on two articles – published in 2002 and 2022 – representing the two approaches. The 2002 article discusses the role of place-specific, local resources and external knowledge in strengthening the competitiveness and innovativeness of firms and regions. This perspective is still relevant in analyses and designs of regional innovation policies. However, a realisation of the shortcomings of a structural approach to explaining the variations of regional development outcomes in different types of regions has led to a more explicit focus on the importance of change agency in regional change processes, as articulated in the 2022 article.</p>}},
author = {{Asheim, Bjørn T. and Grillitsch, Markus}},
booktitle = {{Sustainable regional restructuring : insights from economic geography and regional innovation studies}},
editor = {{Karlsen, James and Rypestøl, Jan Ole and Trippl, Michaela}},
isbn = {{9781035330782}},
keywords = {{Human change agency; Innovation policy; Local and global; Regional innovation systems; Regional restructuring; Sustainability challenges}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{75--92}},
publisher = {{Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.}},
series = {{New horizons in regional science series}},
title = {{Twenty years of regional innovation studies : from local–global to agency–structure}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781035330799.00013}},
doi = {{10.4337/9781035330799.00013}},
year = {{2025}},
}