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New directions for RIS studies and policies in the face of grand societal challenges

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  • Franz Tödtling
  • Michaela Trippl
  • Veronika Desch

Abstract

The regional innovation system (RIS) approach has become a widely used framework for examining the dynamics of innovation across space and for crafting policies to promote the innovation capacity of regions. The dominant focus has been on technological and business innovation enhancing competitiveness and economic growth. In light of persistent environmental and social challenges such as climate change, aging and growing inequalities, this understanding appears to be too narrow. We argue that the RIS approach requires a critical reassessment for informing the next generation of regional innovation policies. We explore how RIS scholarship and policies could benefit from an alternative understanding of the innovation process. Inspired by recent work on mission-oriented and transformative innovation policies, we develop the notion of ‘challenge-oriented RISs’ (CoRISs). In contrast to conventional understandings of RISs, this approach embraces a more critical view of innovation, captures the directionality of change, opens up to new innovation actors at different territorial scales and pays more attention to the application side and upscaling of innovation within the region and beyond. Acknowledging that regions vary in their capacity for transformative change and challenge-oriented innovation, the article outlines new directions for place-based innovation policies.

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  • Franz Tödtling & Michaela Trippl & Veronika Desch, 2022. "New directions for RIS studies and policies in the face of grand societal challenges," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(11), pages 2139-2156, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:30:y:2022:i:11:p:2139-2156
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2021.1951177
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    3. Attila Havas & Doris Schartinger & K. Matthias Weber, 2022. "Innovation Studies, Social Innovation, and Sustainability Transitions Research: From mutual ignorance towards an integrative perspective?," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2227, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    4. Francesco Cappellano & Francesco Molica & Teemu Makkonen, 2024. "Missions and Cohesion Policy: is there a match?," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 51(3), pages 360-374.
    5. Michaela Trippl & Sebastian Fastenrath & Arne Isaksen, 2022. "Rethinking regional economic resilience: Preconditions and processes shaping transformative resilience," GEIST - Geography of Innovation and Sustainability Transitions 2022(02), GEIST Working Paper Series.
    6. Simon Baumgartinger-Seiringer, 2021. "The role of powerful incumbent firms: shaping regional industrial path development through change and maintenance agency," PEGIS geo-disc-2021_07, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    7. Edurne Magro, 2022. "Revisiting the Nexus between Industrial Policy and Regional Economic Resilience in an Era of Grand Societal Challenges," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 243(4), pages 101-122, December.
    8. Christoph Friedrich & Daniel Feser, 2024. "Combining knowledge bases for small wins in peripheral regions. An analysis of the role of innovation intermediaries in sustainability transitions," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 44(2), pages 211-236, June.
    9. Sebastian Losacker & Hendrik Hansmeier & Jens Horbach & Ingo Liefner, 2023. "The geography of environmental innovation: a critical review and agenda for future research," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 43(2), pages 291-316, August.
    10. Patrycjusz Zarębski & Małgorzata Czerwińska-Jaśkiewicz & Maria Klonowska-Matynia, 2022. "Innovation in Peripheral Regions from a Multidimensional Perspective: Evidence from the Middle Pomerania Region in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Huiwen Gong & Bernhard Truffer, 2024. "Changing from within: the interplay between imaginary, culture and innovation system in regional transformation," GEIST - Geography of Innovation and Sustainability Transitions 2024(02), GEIST Working Paper Series.
    12. Arnault Morisson & Isabelle Liotard & Valérie Revest, 2023. "Small Wins through Inducement Prizes: Introducing Challenge-Oriented Regional Prizes (CORP)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    13. Natália Barbosa & Ana Paula Faria, 2023. "Science and productivity in European Firms: How do regional innovation modes matter?," GEE Papers 0175, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Jul 2023.
    14. Puertas, Rosa & Carracedo, Patricia & Garcia−Mollá, Marta & Vega, Virginia, 2022. "Analysis of the determinants of market capitalisation: Innovation, climate change policies and business context," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    15. Christian Reiner & Maximilian Benner, 2022. "Cooperation bias in regional policy: Is competition neglected?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(1), pages 187-221, August.
    16. Maximilian Benner, 2023. "Making spatial evolution work for all? A framework for inclusive path development," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 16(3), pages 445-462.

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