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The New Economic Geography of Old Industrial Regions: Universities as Global — Local Pipelines

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  • Paul Benneworth

    (Institute for Policy and Practice, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, England)

  • Gert-Jan Hospers

    (Faculty MB, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, Netherlands)

Abstract

The knowledge economy appears to be problematic for old industrial regions, as lock-in and restructuring remove assets for innovation from their territories, as well as for the kinds of policy which can stimulate their economies. In this paper we explore whether universities can provide points of stability within which such locked-in regions can strengthen their innovation systems and attract external investment in knowledge capital. Using the case study of Twente in the eastern Netherlands, we explore whether universities can strengthen their regional innovation systems. We distinguish local networking from external-investment attraction to show that universities can become temporary venues for ‘local buzz’, building networks which become attractive to outside investors and promoting regional innovation. This suggests that an alternative approach to regional innovation policy, which we term ‘promoting smart hybridity’, may be useful in stimulating growth-based restructuring in such regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Benneworth & Gert-Jan Hospers, 2007. "The New Economic Geography of Old Industrial Regions: Universities as Global — Local Pipelines," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 25(6), pages 779-802, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:25:y:2007:i:6:p:779-802
    DOI: 10.1068/c0620
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Hassink & Xiaohui Hu, 2017. "From Coal Mining to Coal Chemicals? Unpacking New Path Creation in an Old Industrial Region of Transitional China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 233-245, June.
    2. Paola Rucker Schaeffer & Bruno Fischer & Sergio Queiroz, 2018. "Beyond Education: The Role of Research Universities in Innovation Ecosystems," Foresight and STI Governance (Foresight-Russia till No. 3/2015), National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 12(2), pages 50-61.

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