Persistence in regional learning paradigms and trajectories: consequences for innovation policy design

ABSTRACT

Inspired by the first evaluation processes on how nations and regions have interpreted and specified the smart specialization strategy, this paper applies the lens of evolutionary economic theory to interpret the causes of the lock-in mechanisms in learning processes that seem to prevail in most regions. The paper elaborates the notion of regional learning paradigms and trajectories to interpret evolution in the way innovation occurs in regions. By identifying the sources of path-dependence in regional learning paradigms and trajectories, the paper explains the difficulties faced by regions in ‘jumping’ on a new paradigm/trajectory and initiating an explorative entrepreneurial discovery process. Once the reasons for lock-in are highlighted, the paper advances some suggestions on possible adjustments to the design of a smart specialization strategy.

KEYWORDS:

• Regional innovation patterns
• path-dependence in regional learning paradigm
• innovation policies design

JEL CODES:

• O11
• R11

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. For further details on the variables used in the cluster analysis implemented to detect innovation patterns in European regions and the variables representing the key territorial features of the different groups of regions see Capello and Lenzi (2013).

2. For an example on this specific point see Dosi (1982, p. 155) and Dosi and Orsenigo (1988, pp. 19–20).

3. In other words, changes in a learning trajectory do not automatically lead to a change of paradigm unless they are matched by changes in a region’s functional, institutional and relational structures. Within each paradigm, as time goes by, the intensity of invention/application/imitation in a regional system can increase along a trajectory, while keeping a similar quality of knowledge.