Abstract

This paper discusses to what extent Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) are applicable in sparsely populated areas (SPA) departing from the S3 concept's theoretical background and the experiences of S3 implementation in five European SPA. It was found that S3 has induced a transition in how innovation is addressed, for example, through a more decentralized support system and more proactive approaches to natural resource management unlocking new market opportunities for bio-based innovations. Finally, the research noted a drive to find new governance mechanisms (multi-actor, multi-sectoral and multilevel), in order to sustain human capital development, the most critical resource in the SPA.

Keywords

Smart Specialisation; innovation policy; regional development; knowledge based development; governance

Published in

Regional Studies
2019, Volume: 53, number: 7, pages: 1070-1080
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Dubois, Alexandre

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Economic Geography


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2018.1530752

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/100515