Transformative innovation policy and collaborative governance in regions and cities
Abstract
This article examines how regional and local governance arrangements shape the implementation of transformative innovation policy. While national and supra-national jurisdictions lead in designing policies, success depends on the quality of governance at the regional scale. It argues that collaborative governance arrangements, underpinned by civic capital, are critical for reconciling supra-national and national policy directions with bottom-up, place-based processes. Using a comparative analysis of Biden-era place-based policy in the United States and Smart Specialisation Strategies in the European Union, it shows that governance is constitutive of policy effectiveness, with implications for balancing innovation, competitiveness and equity.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Regional Development and Policy
University-Industry-Government Innovation Models
Regional resilience and development
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Regional Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 8 July 2026
- Language
- EN