Speaker
Description
Complex interactions between various actors including state institutions, private enterprises and civic organizations shape the socio-spatial transformation of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). This study explores the role of innovation as a transformative force in regional futures within the CEE context. The CEE region’s transition from socialist economies to market-driven development has led to uneven regional growth, socio-spatial polarization and shifting patterns of urbanization (Scott & Kühn, 2012; Nagy et al., 2022; Rácz & Egyed, 2023). These structural shifts have created disparities in economic development, infrastructure and regional integration, with former industrial regions experiencing significant economic decline while urban cores undergo rapid transformation (Tsenkova, 2003; Bouzarovski et al., 2017).
The idea of creating something entirely new—disrupting old paradigms of thought and problem-solving—generates excitement at both the individual and institutional levels. There has been an ongoing push to rethink how we produce knowledge, create products and design innovative spaces. In theory, innovation presents itself as a solution, a force capable of pulling industries, firms, local production centers and entire regions out of developmental stagnation. However, the process is not as straightforward. However, the discourse on innovation allows us to rethink developmental dead ends from multiple perspectives. Cultural, social and political contexts deeply embedded in localities are crucial considerations for planners when formulating policy solutions.
Against this backdrop, the REGINNO project investigates the innovation capacity of Slovak regions (Kraje) at the NUTS 3 level, examining sectoral, spatial and human agency dimensions. This research provides key insights into policy-making in regional innovation and regional disparities in Slovakia and neighboring CEE countries. The findings are based on a three-year-long research effort that integrates academic perspectives with local insights. The researcher, through fieldwork, interviews and visits across Slovakia, engaged with public, private, academic and non-governmental actors, learning the language and closely observing the local socio-economic environment.
This research supports and extends existing literature on regional transformation in CEE by examining urban restructuring, socio-economic cohesion and the role of planning actors. Nagy et al. (2022) highlight the emergence of new peripheralities and urban cores, while Raagmaa et al. (2019) identify policy paradoxes that shape socio-spatial dynamics—issues central to this research’s focus on governance and planning frameworks. Similarly, Bouzarovski et al. (2017) emphasize the impact of innovation and energy transitions on urban vulnerability, a crucial dimension in understanding the resilience of post-socialist cities. Scott & Kühn (2012) further highlight how policy responses shape regional adaptation and sustainability, reinforcing this study’s emphasis on governance mechanisms. By synthesizing these perspectives, this research advances the discourse on regional transformation in CEE, offering insights into the interaction of governance, socio-economic change and spatial planning in fostering innovative regional futures.
Despite progress, challenges remain in integrating regional planning with participatory governance, addressing economic restructuring and ensuring social inclusivity in spatial transformations. This research contributes to the discourse on future-oriented spatial planning, emphasizing the need for adaptive policies that support innovation-driven development with sustainable regional strategies in CEE.
References
Bouzarovski, S., Tirado Herrero, S., Petrova, S., Frankowski, J., Matoušek, R. and Maltby, T., 2017. Multiple transformations: Theorizing energy vulnerability as a socio-spatial phenomenon. Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 99(1), pp.20-41.
Nagy, E., Lux, G. and Timár, J., 2022. Changing peripheralities and centralities in Central and Eastern Europe. Tér és Társadalom, 36(3), pp.3-9.
Raagmaa, G., Nagy, E., Görmar, F. and Lang, T., 2019. Understanding and going beyond the regional policy paradox: Conceptual contributions to studying socio-spatial polarisation in Europe. In: Regional and Local Development in Times of Polarisation: Re-thinking Spatial Policies in Europe, pp.345-367.
Rácz, S. and Egyed, I., 2023. From the “West of the East” to the “East of the West”: The postsocialist economic and structural transition of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Deturope, 15(2), pp.9-27.
Scott, J.W. and Kühn, M., 2012. Urban change and urban development strategies in Central East Europe: A selective assessment of events since 1989. European Planning Studies, 20(7), pp.1093-1109.
Tsenkova, S., 2003. Post-socialist cities in a globalizing world. PLANUM, 1, pp.1-20.
| Keywords | regional transformation; innovation; future-oriented spatial planning; regional futures; CEE; Slovakia |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
