Collaboration and Innovation: The State of American Regions

Abstract

The authors argue that regions play a crucial role in the ‘new economy’. They describe the type of leadership required to create ‘innovative’ regions. New challenges demand regional ‘stewardship’ that crosses traditional boundaries and jurisdictions. The authors assess the core characteristics of effective regional stewards and apply this assessment to the critical question of why some regions are more innovative than others. Brief case studies of policies and initiatives in Austin, San Diego, Greater Washington and Silicon Valley show how regional leadership can provide the impetus to outstanding regional development. Successful strategies for regional innovation, the authors conclude, are founded on the desire to create and connect social networks to facilitate and accelerate the innovation process. The deciding factor is not so much the ‘ingredients' as the ‘recipe’ – not so much the assets of a region as how those assets are connected and leveraged.

Keywords

regions innovation collaboration stewardship leadership

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