نوآوری و توسعه اقتصادی منطقه ای: یک موضوع از دیدگاه اقتصادی است؟

This paper investigates the issue of innovation policy within a regional context. It is presented that the perspective one takes is important both in how one interprets the processes and relationships involved, but also in the way one identifies barriers and problems in policy formation and how one resolves them. The paper explores a number of contrasting perspectives in relation to innovation policy and the regions and seeks to highlight the implications of this both for policy, but also in the development of our conceptual understanding about innovation and geography.

This paper investigates the issue of innovation policy within a regional context.1 It is presented here that the perspective one takes is important both in how one interprets the processes and relationships involved, but also in the way one identifies barriers and problems in policy formation and how one resolves them. The paper explores a number of contrasting perspectives in relation to innovation and the regions and seeks to highlight the implications of this both for policy, but also in the development of our conceptual understanding about innovation and geography. The intention of taking these contrasting perspectives is primarily two-fold. Firstly, to highlight the fact that by taking different perspectives one can arrive at very different notions about the objectives, role and even ‘success’ of what might be described as regional innovation policies. The second objective is related to the first, but more wide ranging in that it seeks to unravel some of the confusion and ambiguity caused by different individuals (researchers and policymakers) taking different perspectives on the role and remit of innovation policy and the regions. As such, it seeks to untangle some of the ‘fuzzy notions’ that have arisen out of the debate surrounding innovation policy and the regional dimension, which can be seen in relation to regional policy more generally (Markusen, 1999).

This analysis has sought to highlight the often very different perspectives and policy concerns that emerge from taking contrasting perspectives of regional innovation. Often studies imply in their discussion that there is one received view of innovation policy and regional development, but in reality there are often radically different ones. To be effective innovation policy at the regional level needs coordination and reconciliation of all these different perspectives. This does not necessarily mean that there always has to be agreement about objectives or strategies; indeed there may be some benefit of having ‘creative tension’ in the formation of policy. Perspective matters in policy debate and formation; the ‘right’ answer may vary depending on what perspective one is taking.