Collaboration for Local Economic Development: Business Networks, Politics and Universities in Two Swedish Cities

Engstrand, Åsa-Karin; Åhlander, Ann-Mari Sätre

doi:10.1080/09654310801983274

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…However, they are responsible for regional development and planning in the areas of industry, communication, culture and cooperation with other regions within and outside Sweden. In this way regional policy actors influence the preconditions for economic performance of the region and contribute to creating normative -constraining and enabling -institutions for many activities (Egstrand and Sätre 2008). Thus they also, in an indirect manner, influence the regulative framework.…”

Section: Regional Policy and Institutional Framework Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional Innovation Policy Beyond ‘Best Practice’: Lessons from Sweden

2011

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This paper deals with policy measures in the regional innovation system of Scania, Southern Sweden. Focus is dedicated to requirements on innovation policy from actors representing different industries. Previous studies have identified profound differences with regard the organization of knowledge sourcing between firms and other actors in industries drawing on different knowledge bases. In correspondence with these findings, industries differ also with regard to how policy measures aiming to support innovation are perceived and acquired. Despite this, there is a tendency among regional policy programs to base their strategies on one 'best practice'-model, inspired by successful (or sometimes less successful) cases in other parts of the world. The paper presents an in-depth analysis of such policy support targeting three industries located in one region, and ends with a suggestion to how those should be adapted to render influence on the institutional framework of the regional innovation system. Keywords: innovation policy, regional innovation systems, knowledge bases, SwedenDisclaimer: All the opinions expressed in this paper are the responsibility of the individual author or authors and do not necessarily represent the views of other CIRCLE researchers. Abstract:This paper deals with policy measures in the regional innovation system of Scania, Southern Sweden. Focus is dedicated to requirements on innovation policy from actors representing different industries. Previous studies have identified profound differences with regard the organization of knowledge sourcing between firms and other actors in industries drawing on different knowledge bases. In correspondence with these findings, industries differ also with regard to how policy measures aiming to support innovation are perceived and acquired. Despite this, there is a tendency among regional policy programs to base their strategies on one 'best practice'-model, inspired by successful (or sometimes less successful) cases in other parts of the world. The paper presents an in-depth analysis of such policy support targeting three industries located in one region, and ends with a suggestion to how those should be adapted to render influence on the institutional framework of the regional innovation system.

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Section: Regional Policy and Institutional Framework Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional Innovation Policy Beyond ‘Best Practice’: Lessons from Sweden

2011

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“…network-based policy) means that partnerships, evaluation committees and decision groups will strive for a good representation of key stakeholders, organizations and networks in the region . Networks have become an even more important player in policy-making on the regional level (see Baldersheim et al, 2009;Engstrand and Sätre Åhlander, 2008;Lindberg, 2010). According to Aarsaether et al networks can be more or less inclusive of their membership and transparent in their activities.…”

Section: State Of the Artmentioning

confidence: 98%

Regional policy, social networks and informal structures

Forsberg

Lindgren

2013

European Urban and Regional Studies

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This paper presents a study on regional development and innovation systems. The theoretical points of departure are gender theory and two perspectives from human geography and sociology: the theory of network governance for regional development and the theory of homosocial networks. The regional policy of the EU today is characterized by a strongly emphasized governance model: i.e., an orientation towards networks and cluster initiatives. The 2004-2007 regional development programme in Värmland, a Swedish county, is a template for this policy. Its basic principles included partnership engagements, networking, EU-specific linguistic usage and superstar rhetoric. However, this seemingly innovative regional policy has roots in traditional industrial society (ironworks and paper mills). The networkplanning model allows informal social structures to re-enter the arena of regional planning. Gender equality in regional government policy was challenged by the presence of a homosocial shadow (seamy-side) structure, such as secret networks and clubs on the outside of the official organizations. Networks were also important in the reproduction of traditional power structures, male dominance and hegemony. One conclusion we reach is that networking can be used mutually as a progressive force and as a conservative tool among actors in the innovation of policy.

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“…To shape organizational contexts, the willingness of firms to collaborate regionally is of utmost importance. Hence collective action by several entrepreneurs, but also together with actors of other interest groups (such as the municipal authorities or tourism) at a regional level is significant and seems to have an important influence on regional development (Engstrand & Sätre Åhlander, 2008).…”

Section: Embeddednessmentioning

confidence: 99%