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Social connections for older adults are important in maintaining independence and community engagement.

Innovation policy in many countries recognizes the significance of place‐based innovation systems. Australia's innovation policy has incentives to bring universities and businesses together, but lacks place‐based mechanisms to achieve this. Four case studies of regional intermediary organizations in Melbourne, Australia are examined to understand their role in enabling collaboration between university and industry. Each manages networks, facilitates collaboration, develops a shared direction and acts as a regional ‘door’ to broader systems. The ability of intermediary organizations to cross boundaries between knowledge generating and innovating entities is key to the cohesion and effective operation of the regional innovation systems.

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This paper examines the socio-economic impact of mineral and agricultural resource extraction on local communities and explores policy options for addressing them. An emphasis on the marketization of services together with tight fiscal control has reinforced decline in many country communities in Australia and elsewhere. However, the introduction by the European Union of Regional Policy which emphasizes 'smart specialization' can enhance greatly the capacity of local people to generate decent livelihoods. For this to have real effect, the innovative state has to enable partnerships between communities, researchers and industry. For countries like Australia, this would be a substantive policy shift. JEL classification: R11, R23, R58