Aranguren, M.J., Larrea, M.
Journal of the Knowledge Economy, DOI: 10.1007/s13132-011-0068-1.
English // Keywords: Constructing regional advantage, Regional innovation policy, Policy learning, Knowledge networks
Description
The starting point for this paper is the concept of constructing regional advantage (CRA). In the future, it will not be practical to assume that competitive advantage can be created by simply having the relevant actors in place. On the contrary, it will need to be consciously and proactively constructed. This implies a new, more dynamic role for the public sector in general, and for government and governance in particular in terms of interaction with the private sector. The paper
approaches the regional innovation policy process as part of the process of constructing regional advantage. The policy process is interpreted as a learning process in which governments and other regional actors such as firms or universities can develop the capabilities to construct regional advantage. This paper focuses on the following research questions: (1) What determines the potential of a policy learning process to construct regional advantage? (2) How can policy learning be organized to help construct regional advantage? The case study of EG (a policy network in the Basque Country) is used to illustrate the main concepts involved.
