Sustainable Innovation and Regional Development Rethinking Innovative Milieus

This book questions the way contemporary innovation processes develop and become embedded in territories. It analyses recent developments in territorial systems of production, networks of innovation and innovative milieus, with regard to the issue of sustainable development. Drawing on 12 case studies aimed at fostering sustainable development and conducted by an experienced team of international scholars, a new conceptual approach to sustainable innovation is proposed. More broadly, it also reassesses the development models proposed in the 1980s that emerged in the context of globalization, competitiveness and technological innovation.

The book argues that a rethink of regional development dynamics is necessary in order to properly consider current sustainable development requirements. A renewed understanding of the dynamics of actors and anchoring factors is pursued, clarifying the role of territories in the light of sustainable development demands and globalization processes. A new typology of organizational forms of sustainable innovation is provided and the traditional concept of ‘innovative milieu’ is challenged. The contributions call for a rethink and redesign of public policies in the fields of sustainable innovation more able to deal with contemporary realities.

Crossing a wide set of disciplines, this book will appeal to academics, students and policy makers in the fields of urban studies, regional development, innovation and sustainable development.