Constructing Regional Advantage: Platform Policies Based on Related Variety and Differentiated Knowledge Bases

TLDR

Regional innovation policy research examines how related variety and differentiated knowledge bases can shape regional advantage. The study proposes a regional innovation policy model that constructs regional advantage and explores its implications for platform policies promoting economic development across regions. The model integrates related variety, differentiated knowledge bases (analytical, synthetic, symbolic), and policy platforms, emphasizing spillovers across complementary sectors and the need for virtual and real proximity mixes. The model’s implications suggest that platform policies incorporating related variety and differentiated knowledge bases can foster economic development within and between regions.

Abstract

ASHEIM B. T., BOSCHMA R. and COOKE P. Constructing regional advantage: platform policies based on related variety and differentiated knowledge bases, Regional Studies. This paper presents a regional innovation policy model based on the idea of constructing regional advantage. This policy model brings together concepts like related variety, knowledge bases and policy platforms. Related variety attaches importance to knowledge spillovers across complementary sectors. The paper categorizes knowledge into 'analytical' (science based), 'synthetic' (engineering based) and 'symbolic' (arts based) in nature, with different requirements of 'virtual' and real proximity mixes. The implications of this are traced for evolving 'platform policies' that facilitate economic development within and between regions in action lines appropriate to incorporate the basic principles behind related variety and differentiated knowledge bases.