Smart specialization and institutional context

Autor(en)

Maximilian Benner

Abstrakt

Recent years have witnessed much experimentation with smart specialization strategies (RIS3) and entrepreneurial discovery processes (EDPs) in European regions. The EDP can be seen as an opportunity to address institutional questions. Because institutional patterns can explain why some policies are eventually successful while others are not, looking at the institutional context of regional economies can increase the effectiveness of regional policy. This article argues that the EDP functions as a framework to discover institutional patterns specific to a regional economy, and to define policies either consistent with existing institutions or aiming at institutional change. The article proposes a conceptual framework to understand and analyze the two institution-related roles of the EDP, first as an institutional discovery process and second as an institutional change process. The article builds on empirical case studies in two regions (Lower Austria, Austria and South Tyrol, Italy) and two small countries (Slovenia and Croatia). The case studies focus on how these regions or countries organized the EDP that eventually led to the formulation of their RIS3, and on the institutional dynamics of the EDP in discovering and changing institutions. The article concludes with policy implications that contribute to the debate on post-2020 EU Cohesion Policy.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Geographie und Regionalforschung

Journal

European Planning Studies

Band

27

Seiten

1791-1810

Anzahl der Seiten

20

ISSN

0965-4313

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1643826

Publikationsdatum

2019

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

507026 Wirtschaftsgeographie, 507014 Regionalentwicklung

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Geography, Planning and Development

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/780a47b4-77ae-4a11-98c1-dc3b74420f21