Speaker
Description
The interaction of knowledge production, concentration and transformation into innovation shapes the regional economic capacity in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Socio-spatial innovation, a critical component of sustainable urban regeneration, provides a valuable framework for examining these dynamics. This contribution highlights insights from the Regional Innovation Capacity Research (REGINNO) project, which investigates regional innovation capacity at the NUTS 3 level in Slovakia and neighbouring CEE countries, exploring sectors, spaces, and human capital.
REGINNO adopts a spatial approach to innovation, applying local and global statistical models to analyse regional disparities and determinants of innovation. The findings reveal that geographical location and socio-spatial factors significantly impact innovative outputs, with unique patterns across different regional contexts. Furthermore, the research discusses the role of industrial cluster organizations and their intermediary functions in fostering regional knowledge networks, highlighting the need to rethink existing capacities for innovation-driven development.
Beyond identifying innovation disparities, REGINNO provides a research design for regional- scale innovation through spatial planning. The approach integrates knowledge production ecosystems, institutional frameworks and place-based governance to develop targeted innovation policies. The results indicate that while public research institutions play a vital role in regional knowledge creation, their cooperation with industry remains limited due to bureaucratic constraints and institutional inertia.
This special session emphasizes the importance of integrating socio-spatial innovation into planning and policy frameworks to enhance urban regeneration efforts. By addressing these regional dynamics, REGINNO contributes to a deeper understanding of regeneration of industrial spaces, innovation processes and pathways toward more resilient and competitive CEE regions.
