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From Concept to Policy: Building Regional Innovation Systems in Follower Regions

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  • Alexandre Almeida
  • António Figueiredo
  • Mário Rui Silva

Abstract

In the spirit of “The Lisbon strategy”, public policies are redirecting support from investment-driven policies to knowledge building as the main driver for competitiveness and innovation. This re-orientation poses different challenges to regions, and the regional innovation system (RIS) concept may be the central element, simultaneously goal and toolbox, for devising innovation-promotion policies. The RIS framework stresses the need to combine a systemic and inclusive view of innovation along with territorially embedded specificities. In this paper, we explore how to operationalize the concept of RIS in terms of innovation policy, arguing against a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Concentrating our analysis on follower regions, we bridge the concept of RIS with the structural deficiencies and challenges posing to this kind of regions, for which innovation policy should seek an adequate combination between science-push and demand-pull perspectives. We also address the importance of taking advantage of the catching-up status, building upon the research and development cost advantages and clustering around external initiatives as well as the correction of important constraints to the construction of a RIS.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandre Almeida & António Figueiredo & Mário Rui Silva, 2011. "From Concept to Policy: Building Regional Innovation Systems in Follower Regions," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(7), pages 1331-1356, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:19:y:2011:i:7:p:1331-1356
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2011.573140
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Brenner & Franziska Pudelko, 2019. "The effects of public research and subsidies on regional structural strength," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 29(5), pages 1433-1458, November.
    2. Marcus Conlé & Henning Kroll & Cornelia Storz & Tobias ten Brink, 2023. "University satellite institutes as exogenous facilitators of technology transfer ecosystem development," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 147-180, February.
    3. Mate-Sanchez-Val, Mariluz & Harris, Richard, 2014. "Differential empirical innovation factors for Spain and the UK," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 451-463.
    4. José Manuel López‐Fernández & Mariluz Maté‐Sánchez‐Val & Francisco Manuel Somohano‐Rodriguez, 2021. "The effect of micro‐territorial networks on industrial small and medium enterprises' innovation: A case study in the Spanish region of Cantabria," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(1), pages 51-77, February.
    5. T. Theeranattapong & D. Pickernell & C. Simms, 2021. "Systematic literature review paper: the regional innovation system-university-science park nexus," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 2017-2050, December.
    6. Lukasz Arendt & Wojciech Grabowski, 2019. "The role of firm-level factors and regional innovation capabilities for Polish SMEs," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 15(3), pages 11-44.
    7. Fernando Alexandre & Hélder Costa & Ana Paula Faria & Miguel Portela, 2022. "Enhancing University–Industry collaboration: the role of intermediary organizations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1584-1611, October.
    8. Jonas Mendes Constante & Peter W. Langen & Salvador Furió Pruñonosa, 2023. "Innovation ecosystems in ports: a comparative analysis of Rotterdam and Valencia," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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