4 research outputs found
Designing 'context-specific' regional innovation policy: a study on the role of regional government in six European regions
The aim of this study is to investigate how regional
government matters in designing ‘context-specific’ regional innovation
policy. To that end, the study develops a Public Administration framework to
conceptualise the different roles theoretically and applies this framework to
capture these roles empirically in six European regions. The study employs a
descriptive, multiple-case study research method comparing six regions, three
German and three British regions. Qualitative data have been gathered from an
existing dataset through archival records research and documentation analysis.
The assumption that regions endowed with regional autonomy are better at
contextualized policy design is not confirmed in this study. Instead, among
the six case studies a great variety of regional government roles was found
irrespective of government system type, and all regions engaged in multiple
roles throughout the policy process to succeed at designing their
‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy.
Understanding how ‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy comes about
requires a differentiated conceptualisation of the role of regional
government. This is the overall conclusion of the study. The study generates
new insights about ‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy and makes an
important contribution to better understanding the role of regional
government as a policy-making actor to develop such a policy.
The politics and administration of institutional chang