Policy learning and smart specialization: balancing policy change and continuity for new regional industrial paths

Author(s)
Jerker Moodysson, Michaela Trippl, Elena Zukauskaite
Abstract

This article seeks to explain what policy approaches and policy measures are best suited for promoting new regional industrial path development and what needs and possibilities there are for such policy to change and adapt to new conditions in order to remain efficient. The article departs from the notion of Smart Specialization and discusses how regional strategies that are inspired by this approach influence path renewal and new path creation and how they are related to and aligned with policy strategies implemented at other scales (local, regional, national, supranational). Our main argument is that new regional industrial growth paths require both continuity and change within the support structure of the innovation system. Unless smart specialization strategies are able to combine such adaptation and continuity, they fail to promote path renewal and new path creation. Our arguments are illustrated with empirical findings from the regional innovation system of Scania, South Sweden.

Organisation(s)
Department of Geography and Regional Research
External organisation(s)
Jönköping University, Lund University
Journal
Science and Public Policy
Volume
44
Pages
382-391
No. of pages
10
ISSN
0302-3427
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scw071
Publication date
10-2016
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
507026 Economic geography, 507014 Regional development
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geography, Planning and Development, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Public Administration
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/e259933b-240b-4100-8ee9-959841584825