Back to search

DEMOS-Demokratisk og effektiv styring, planlegging og forvaltning

Economic development paths in Norwegian regions: Constructing regional advantage in central and peripheral regions

Awarded: NOK 5.4 mill.

The background for this study is one where recent research on regional innovation and regional industrial development has shifted from its previous strong focus on specialization and clusters, to a focus on heterogeneity and inter-industry relationships. The combination of different knowledge bases, modes of innovation and forms of learning is increasingly seen as a key enabling factor for regional innovation and growth. The concept of related variety and the evolutionary perspective of regional branching entail the assumption that regions develop via new industrial developments which are related to existing industry and existing knowledge bases. The aim of this study has been to investigate regional development processes in Norway, focusing on the extent to which regional economies develop, either through regional branching patterns or mutation of existing industries and knowledge bases, or through alternative development processes. It investigates the preconditions for different development paths in different types of regions and discusses to what extent current policy approaches are adequate in facing these challenges. To address these objectives, the project will be carried out through three interrelated work packages: 1) A study of innovation patterns, sources of knowledge and channels of knowledge transfer in Norwegian regions, based on analysis of available register data on R&D investments, innovation, characteristics of firms and employees. 2) A study of regional branching and regional advantage in three different regions, Oslo, Horten/Tønsberg and Lister region in Agder. A large number of primary and secondary data sources will be used. 3) A policy-oriented study of regional innovation policies for constructing regional advantage.

Research on regional innovation and regional industrial development has shifted from a previous strong focus on specialization and clusters, to a focus on heterogeneity and inter-industry relationships, where the recombination of different knowledge bases , modes of innovation and forms of learning is seen as a key enabling factor for regional innovation and growth. With this in mind, the project aims at investigating the potential for regional branching in different regions in Norway. Given the strong p ath dependency in the Norwegian economy, regional branching seems to be a more realistic alternative of regional economic and industrial development compared to a strategy of knowledge based entrepreneurship promoting new, emerging industries. The questio n of diversity in the various innovation systems will be of key importance in the analyses, with a focus on knowledge bases, knowledge spillovers as well as the importance of linking up to distributed, global knowledge networks to complement or compensate for lacking regional or domestic resources. Furthermore, the implications for regional innovation policies will be addressed; i.e. how can regional advantage be constructed for various regions. To address these objectives, the project will be carried ou t through three interrelated work packages: 1) A study of innovation patterns, sources of knowledge and channels of knowledge transfer in Norwegian regions, based on analysis of available register data on R&D investments, innovation, characteristics of f irms and employees. 2) A study of regional branching and regional advantage in three different regions, Oslo, Horten/Tønsberg and Lister region in Agder. A large number of primary and secondary data sources will be used. 3) A policy-oriented study of re gional innovation policies for constructing regional advantage.

Publications from Cristin

No publications found

No publications found

No publications found

No publications found

Funding scheme:

DEMOS-Demokratisk og effektiv styring, planlegging og forvaltning