Understanding policy learning in regional innovation policies: lessons from the Galician case

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze how learning happens at regional innovation policies in a multilevel governance framework. We explore the case of Galicia, a region with competencies on innovation policies also affected by two other government levels. Our methodology consisted of in-depth interviews with the persons who bore the major responsibility for innovation policies during last decades. Our findings suggest that the interactions with other government levels are a key channel for policy learning. Sometimes learning is associated with simple imitation of the national level, which might lead to questionable results because neither the previous policy-making trajectory nor the region particularities are taken into account. Other times learning is needed because a new political rationality is imposed. This has been the case of the Smart Specialization strategy in Galicia, which nevertheless was key to enhance social and political participation, a channel for policy learning not used before.

Keywords:

• Innovation
• policy
• regions
• learning
• Galicia

Additional information

Funding

This research has received the support of the project EURIPER (EU Regional and Innovation Policies and Peripheral Regions) funded by the Jean Monnet Projects Action of the Erasmus+ Programme (Project Reference: 587410-EPP-1-2017-1-ES-EPPJMO-PROJECT).

Notes on contributors

Manuel González-López

Manuel González-López is a full-time PhD Lecturer and Researcher at the Department of Applied Economics of the University of Santiago de Compostela and member of the research group ICEDE (Innovation, Structural Change and Development). He has published many papers at national and international journals in the field of regional development and innovation with a particular focus on the EU regions. He has also participated in several national and EU projects about innovation policies, regional innovation systems and other similar topics. His academic and research activity shows a high international profile as he completed his post-graduate studies in the UK, participated as a visitor researcher in France and Denmark and has collaborated in projects with a large number of international (EU).