Negotiating Place-Based Regional Development Policy: Multi-Level Governance and Institutional Isomorphism in RIS3 Implementation within the Eastern and Southern Netherlands
(2026) SGEM08 20261Department of Human Geography
- Abstract
- This research has explored the role actors from various scales have in the production of Research, Innovation and Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) in the Eastern and Southern Netherlands through its multi-level governance framework. This could be worrying, as the influence from higher-scale actors could weaken RIS3’s ability to create place-based programmes. In order to gain an understanding of the ways in which place-based policymaking within RIS3 is impacted by the multi-level interactions between policymakers and stakeholders, this research has employed the concept of isomorphism. This concept allows for systematically assessing whether different institutions and policies move towards a singular shape, thus decreasing place-based... (More)
- This research has explored the role actors from various scales have in the production of Research, Innovation and Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) in the Eastern and Southern Netherlands through its multi-level governance framework. This could be worrying, as the influence from higher-scale actors could weaken RIS3’s ability to create place-based programmes. In order to gain an understanding of the ways in which place-based policymaking within RIS3 is impacted by the multi-level interactions between policymakers and stakeholders, this research has employed the concept of isomorphism. This concept allows for systematically assessing whether different institutions and policies move towards a singular shape, thus decreasing place-based policymaking in favour of onesize-fits-all policymaking. Through interviews with consultants from all consultancy agencies involved in the policymaking process and programme managers from all regions, as well as analyses of the RIS programme documents. This research has uncovered the assumptions, negotiations, and deliberations which create the amount of space for local needs and strengths to be represented within the policymaking process in two relatively peripheral, yet innovative, regions. This research has shown that, through ideas surrounding acceptable types of innovation, strict funding requirements, and attempts at aligning the programmes with EU-wide or national innovation chains, coercive and normative isomorphism are driving forces behind the general shape and direction of RIS3 programmes. Furthermore, a limited variety of local actors and temporal isomorphism, through a continuation of prior policy, are the main factors behind place-based policymaking, and outreach towards non-regime level industries is limited. As a result, not all areas of the regions can be incorporated in the programme. Furthermore, part of the funding goes to introduced industries, and support to existing specialisations is lacking at times. These issues partly seem to stem from incomplete communication and unclear power relations within the multi-level governance, as well as insecurities regarding funding. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9232986
- author
- Van Rems, Tjores Thadde LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SGEM08 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- RIS3, Multi-level governance, institutional isomorphism, place-based policymaking
- language
- English
- id
- 9232986
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-08 15:35:19
- date last changed
- 2026-06-08 15:35:19
@misc{9232986,
abstract = {{This research has explored the role actors from various scales have in the production of Research, Innovation and Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) in the Eastern and Southern Netherlands through its multi-level governance framework. This could be worrying, as the influence from higher-scale actors could weaken RIS3’s ability to create place-based programmes. In order to gain an understanding of the ways in which place-based policymaking within RIS3 is impacted by the multi-level interactions between policymakers and stakeholders, this research has employed the concept of isomorphism. This concept allows for systematically assessing whether different institutions and policies move towards a singular shape, thus decreasing place-based policymaking in favour of onesize-fits-all policymaking. Through interviews with consultants from all consultancy agencies involved in the policymaking process and programme managers from all regions, as well as analyses of the RIS programme documents. This research has uncovered the assumptions, negotiations, and deliberations which create the amount of space for local needs and strengths to be represented within the policymaking process in two relatively peripheral, yet innovative, regions. This research has shown that, through ideas surrounding acceptable types of innovation, strict funding requirements, and attempts at aligning the programmes with EU-wide or national innovation chains, coercive and normative isomorphism are driving forces behind the general shape and direction of RIS3 programmes. Furthermore, a limited variety of local actors and temporal isomorphism, through a continuation of prior policy, are the main factors behind place-based policymaking, and outreach towards non-regime level industries is limited. As a result, not all areas of the regions can be incorporated in the programme. Furthermore, part of the funding goes to introduced industries, and support to existing specialisations is lacking at times. These issues partly seem to stem from incomplete communication and unclear power relations within the multi-level governance, as well as insecurities regarding funding.}},
author = {{Van Rems, Tjores Thadde}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Negotiating Place-Based Regional Development Policy: Multi-Level Governance and Institutional Isomorphism in RIS3 Implementation within the Eastern and Southern Netherlands}},
year = {{2026}},
}