Policy for Evolution of Regional Innovation Systems: The Role of Social Capital and Regional Particularities

Abstract

Research exploring interplays between innovation systems and policy have argued that the literature on regional innovation systems (RIS) should consider how policy at different levels contributes toward RIS evolution. Seeing RIS through a social capital perspective and linking this to evolutionary reasoning, we develop an analytical framework addressing this gap. Through an analysis of the national Norwegian VRI program and three of its regional projects, we observe that regional responses deviate from the evolution of the `national policy path'. This indicates that policy stimulating RIS development should acknowledge that the degree-and dominant form-of regional social capital matter for evolution of the system. Consequently, the literature should avoid the assumption that regions differ only in terms of industry structure or particular challenges; understandings of regional particularities should also account for degree and type of regional social capital a priori policy intervention.