Regions and Innovation Policy

Sustainable growth at regional level is now, more than ever, predicated on the capacity to innovate. This publication focuses on two main questions:

1. How can regional actors support innovation that is relevant for their specific regional context, building on their human and physical assets?

2. How should national innovation policies take into account this regional dimension, the local nodes in the global networks? 

Part I offers a framework to develop a regional roadmap with a smart policy mix, building on innovation dynamics, and the policy approaches to support them. Effective governance arrangements are discussed, within the region among both public and private actors, as well as across levels of government. Part II provides elements of a "how-to" approach for the implementation of policy instruments. Regional innovation agencies, for example, are often used to bring together public and private interests behind regional strategies. Regional-level data and country pages are also included as a reference tool.