Path-development trajectories and barriers perceived by stakeholders in two Central European less developed regions: narrow or broad choice?

ABSTRACT

This paper aims at the comprehension of feasible development trajectories conceptualized within the new path-development model in the case of two less developed regions in Central Europe (CE). The main new element of this paper comprises the examination of the perception of key barriers and mechanisms hindering particular evolutionary trajectories by regional stakeholders and their comparison with those conceptualized in the literature. Although conceptual characteristics of prevailing path types in different regional innovation systems do exist, empirical verification from less developed regions such as those in CE is insufficient. On the basis of interviews with regional stakeholders, a typology of barriers for pathways conceptualized to date was elaborated from a CE perspective. Our study showed that the feasibility of a more radical path is hindered by a wide range of barriers operating at different levels. The elaborated typology of barriers for various path-development trajectories outlined the main hindrances constraining key regional actors, linkages and institutions. Given the general weakness of the overall RIS, path-extension and path-modernization trajectories are bound to be the most realistic options for this type of less developed regions. Our study revealed existing regional dynamics as built predominately upon incremental changes within rooted but prospective industrial branches.

KEYWORDS:

• New path-development model
• barriers
• CEECs
• smart specialization

Acknowledgement

Financial support of Grant Agency of The Czech Republic (no: 17-06621S) is greatly acknowledged. This work has been also supported by Charles University Research Centre program UNCE/HUM/018.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Viktor Květoň http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8339-0811

Notes

1 Smart specialisation strategy can be seen as a suitable tool where representatives of all stakeholder groups in regional ecosystems agree and reflect ambitions, vision and strategy for future regional trajectory.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support of Grant Agency of The Czech Republic [grant number 17-06621S] is greatly acknowledged. This work has been also supported by Univerzita Karlova v Praze [grant number UNCE/HUM/018].