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It is not uncommon to encounter overoptimistic views among policy-makers concerning the extent to which the research outcome of a university can have an impact on the innovation and economic performance of a local economy. Policies and expectations are usually influenced by optimal cases of top-ranked universities in highly innovative geographies. However, most universities do not function in such contexts, but in regions of weak innovation and economic development, often characterized as less developed regions (LDRs). To enrich our understanding about universities within LDRs, this study attempts to provide insights into the local research impact of a young university located within an LDR by analyzing bibliometric data. Findings show that although the university's research output grows, there is hardly any evidence of an impact on local organizations, suggesting that the expected universities' roles and related innovation policies should always consider the characteristics of the place within which they function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of the main criterion employed by the European Commission for the allocation of the largest portion of Structural Funds, based on the threshold of the 75% of European Union (EU) average gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. We focus on the 2014–2020 programming period and on EU‐15 regions to analyze if this criterion has penalized some of them, as a consequence of the 2004 EU enlargement, which has represented an exogenous shock in the allocation process, due to the economic backwardness of new member states. Through the application of Synthetic Control Methods and Difference‐in‐Differences estimators at different geographical scales, we show that regions that did not obtain the less developed status in both the programming period 2007–2013 and 2014–2020, but that would have obtained it in the period 2014–2020 without the 2004 EU enlargement, experienced a significantly lower GDP per capita growth between −10.5% and −5.7%. Conversely, territories that in the period 2014–2020 lost the less developed status, previously obtained in the time frame 2007–2013, were not characterized by a significantly lower economic growth, providing some evidence of the effectiveness of the safety net. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disrupted identities of inhabitants in old industrial and other less developed regions are seldom an issue of regional policies, even though people's attachment to their residential environment can influence territorial development. It is the aim of this paper to assess the reach of regional policy to strengthen place attachment and the place identity of inhabitants. We do so by analysing the development and implementation process of the novel participatory and place-sensitive policy programme #heimatruhr. The programme aimed to renew residents' attachment and emotional bonds with their neighbourhoods in the old industrial region Ruhr in Germany through arts and social innovation-based initiatives. It was designed in an experimental process and followed an open, co-creative, and transformative proceeding. The key to place-sensitivity was the integration of participants during the entire programme development and implementation from the early phases onwards. Our findings suggest that supporting people-centred place-making practices as part of regional policies can positively influence residents' place attachment. Therefore, place-based policies should not only target local economic development but also include an explicit people-centred perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the growing literature on research and development (R&D) collaboration in the context of less developed regions (LDRs) in the European Union (EU) and examines the opportunities for LDRs to successfully collaborate with developed regions. A systematic review of the literature shows that studies on R&D collaboration in LDRs are at the forefront of regional innovation research in the EU and that opportunities to explore this research topic are still wide open. A critical review and synthesis of the selected articles shows that LDRs have equal opportunities to collaborate and build successful relationships with developed regions by paying attention to at least five motivational drivers and critical factors to enhance the success of their R&D collaborations.

This study explores the growing literature on research and development (R&D) collaboration in the context of less developed regions (LDRs) in the European Union (EU) and examines the opportunities for LDRs to successfully collaborate with developed regions. A systematic review of the literature shows that studies on R&D collaboration in LDRs are at the forefront of regional innovation research in the EU and that opportunities to explore this research topic are still wide open. A critical review and synthesis of the selected articles shows that LDRs have equal opportunities to collaborate and build successful relationships with developed regions by paying attention to at least five motivational drivers and critical factors to enhance the success of their R&D collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development zone is an important institutional form of industrial spatial organization in China's economic transformation and is an essential growth pole of urban economic development. Based on the county-level panel data of Guangxi from 2005 to 2017, this study contributes to the discussion by exploring the effects of development zones on economic development in developed regions. Additionally, this study further attempts to illustrate the character of the agglomeration effect built on development zones and try to reveal the significant influence factors of the effect of development zones on the economy. Through the progressive difference-in-difference (DID) model approach, empirical results reveal that the development zone has a negative effect on the local economy within three years after its establishment, and the "development zone fever" significantly reduces the potential for regional economic growth. With the decrease in the established frequency of development zones, the effect of the development zone on economic growth becomes positive. However, this promoting effect is unsustainable because the agglomeration effect of development zones is mainly caused by the "clusters of enterprises". Certain industrial agglomeration and technological capabilities are essential prerequisites for development zones to promote economic growth, while the negative impact appears in a highly competitive environment caused by excessive government intervention. Therefore, the key to maintaining the sustainability of development zones' competition is to strengthen the assessment standard of survival of the fittest for enterprises, and promote the agglomeration of high-end industries by improving the selection effect of development zones. These findings have great potential in policy making and can be used as a resource by policymakers to promote the sustainable development of less developed regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence of patterns of decline or stagnation in developed countries has led to a renewed interest in the study of less developed regions. This renewed interest is informed by a variety of approaches, which range from studies on the unequal distribution of economic power and resources to analysis of regional endowments, such as human capital or quality of institutions. However, a persistent misconception in some of this literature is that the primary factor explaining levels of development is innovation happening within firms. In particular, this narrative fails to consider the role of national and international agents and processes, the impact of value chain management on value appropriation, and the challenges to diversification within peripheral regions. This paper will contribute to this debate by developing these matters theoretically and by drawing on an analysis of three wine regions in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the long‐term effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) in less developed regions (LDRs). It identifies different types and mechanisms of FDI in more developed regions (MDRs) and LDRs, which lead to different regional development outcomes. It critically evaluates the most important approaches to FDI in LDRs developed in economic geography, namely the branch plant economy and truncation, new regionalism, new international division of labor and spatial divisions of labor, and global production networks. In the long run, FDI tends to benefit MDRs more than LDRs. The article calls on economic geographers to continue the research on FDI in the context of uneven development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2008 Global Financial Crisis influenced geo-economic dynamics in the EU, triggering a repositioning of less developed regions. This analysis examines whether their competitiveness changed after 2008, and why some regions improved in performance. Using ERCI data, we compare EU lagging regions at NUTS2 level, finding that the Central and Eastern European (CEE) regions reacted to the crisis better than Southern Italian ones. We find that the divergence in their competitiveness pathways depends on the scale of their financial resources and on institutional endowments and legacy, which in turn directly affects the implementation of regional policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an interpretation of the role played by the EU regional policy in the process of urban change experienced in Palermo, the fifth Italian city by population and capital of one of the largest Europe's less developed regions (Sicily). Through an analysis of various EU-funded planning initiatives implemented over the last two decades – from the Urban Community Initiative in the late nineties to the current Integrated Territorial Investments under the 2014–2020 urban agenda –, the work explores their effects from three main perspectives: urban regeneration, local governance, and planning innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the nineties, urban areas have assumed a growing importance in EU Cohesion Policy. This process, which is being implemented through various political steps and policy instruments, has led cities to be recognised as key elements in the promotion of balanced development. After decades of planning experiments at different territorial scales, however, the extent to which EU urban policy has contributed to regional development is currently under debate. This paper seeks to describe the evolution of the urban dimension within EU Cohesion Policy, with a focus on the role of cities in those countries and regions experiencing development problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development zone is an important institutional form of industrial spatial organization in China’s economic transformation and is an essential growth pole of urban economic development. Based on the county-level panel data of Guangxi from 2005 to 2017, this study contributes to the discussion by exploring the effects of development zones on economic development in developed regions. Additionally, this study further attempts to illustrate the character of the agglomeration effect built on development zones and try to reveal the significant influence factors of the effect of development zones on the economy. Through the progressive difference-in-difference (DID) model approach, empirical results reveal that the development zone has a negative effect on the local economy within three years after its establishment, and the “development zone fever” significantly reduces the potential for regional economic growth. With the decrease in the established frequency of development zones, the effect of the development zone on economic growth becomes positive. However, this promoting effect is unsustainable because the agglomeration effect of development zones is mainly caused by the “clusters of enterprises”. Certain industrial agglomeration and technological capabilities are essential prerequisites for development zones to promote economic growth, while the negative impact appears in a highly competitive environment caused by excessive government intervention. Therefore, the key to maintaining the sustainability of development zones’ competition is to strengthen the assessment standard of survival of the fittest for enterprises, and promote the agglomeration of high-end industries by improving the selection effect of development zones. These findings have great potential in policy making and can be used as a resource by policymakers to promote the sustainable development of less developed regions.

The Framework Programmes (FPs) represent one key supply-side instrument in the innovation policy mix implemented directly by the European Union (EU). Since its final goal is fostering innovation and competitiveness, it is advisable to analyze the spatial distribution of this instrument across EU regions. The main aim of this paper is to analyze the regional allocation of the coordination and participation in projects under the 6th and the 7th FPs, as well as the distribution of funds from Horizon 2020 (the 8th FP). For this purpose, a comprehensive database regionalized at NUTS 2 level was elaborated based on the data supplied by CORDIS and the Smart Specialisation Platform. Moreover, in order to tackle the relationship between FPs and regional development, NUTS 2 regions were classified into three groups: less developed regions, middle-income regions and developed regions. Our empirical evidence underlines different trends in this tool of the innovation policy mix. The general trend points to a positive correlation between the level of development and the capacity to attract FPs projects and funds. Therefore, FPs might contribute to reinforcing pre-existing innovation hubs and long-term growth disparities. Thus, coordination and participation in projects, as well as the funds allocated in the FPs are heavily concentrated in the developed regions. Middle-income regions attract more projects on average than less develop regions, although the disparities among them are not particularly high. Concerning less developed regions, there are two different groups of regions. One of them is characterized by a remarkable number of project coordinations that attract funds, even higher than some middle-income regions; while the other group shows a low number of coordinations or participations in projects. Comparing the 6th and the 7th FPs, we observe a slight reduction of the disparities, particularly due to the higher participation of regions from Spain, Portugal and Italy, which were among the hardest hit by the economic recession in Europe. This trend could be explained by the need to compensate the reduction of regional and national funds by means of being more active in capturing EU funds.

The interplay between related and unrelated varieties and diversification processes as a driver of economic growth dominates contemporary discussions in the evolutionary economic geography (EEG) literature. This study provides further insights into these debates by exploring Poland, a nation of predominantly less developed regions, in the turbulent period between 1931 and 2000 which covers the Second World War and Communism. It is confirmed that in these specific settings only variety and diversification based on knowledge-intensive-related industries were conducive to growth. Successful diversification occurred more frequently around the capital city and transport corridors, indicating implications for EEG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial presents the Regional Studies special issue entitled 'Smart Specialisation and Learning Regions as a Competitive Strategy for Less Developed Regions', which promotes theoretical and empirical research on Smart Specialisation Strategies in less developed regions, highlighting the role of collaborative networks, regional development policies and governance models to extant new theoretical conceptualizations within this field. This special issue includes a set of eight papers, and it is our expectation that it contributes to the advancement of our understanding of the field, catalyses further attention, and helps to identify future challenges and the research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran has implemented financial and legal support policies for new technology-based firms (NTBFs) since 2009. An assessment of these policies shows an unintended effect of perpetuating core–periphery development gaps, but also a limited understanding of the conditions for NTBF creation. This paper proposes a policy model for NTBF creation in less developed regions that adopts the broader perspective of the entrepreneurial discovery process associated with the Smart Specialisation concept. The policy model considers the entrepreneurs' level, the firms' level and the regional entrepreneurial environment to ensure adequate representation of all actors in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Territorial, economic and social cohesion in European Union (EU) regions are major challenges that regional policies are aimed at. These policies have a strong focus on innovation-driven models as key processes for reducing disparities and promoting regional development. Since the 1980s, innovation and technology policies have gained momentum and legitimacy to stimulate multiple development patterns and growth models, mainly from national economic dynamics to well performing regional systems. Theories of knowledge and learning have been developed in more successful places, producing concepts that seem unattainable for less successful ones. Given that less developed regions have been overlooked in innovation studies, this paper reviews the literature on territorial innovation models in Europe in order to understand theoretical and practical gaps for these regions and to identify trends that support the need to redirect conceptual, political and instrumental attention of territorial innovation systems. It debates the different forms of innovation in regions, the variety and role of actors, the quest for geographical and place-based resources, the determinants for innovation and the 'how' and 'for what' demands of regional development. The discussion anticipates critical questions that try to promote a 'normative turn' in innovation policy, propose research avenues and discuss policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural environment, as a source of natural resources, has long been perceived as being a factor in determining the development of many states and regions, especially less developed areas. The main research question in this article is what role is played by natural resources and traditional industry sectors based on natural resources (milk production and tourism), in the process of establishing a competitive advantage for Podlaskie Voivodeship, which is one of the less developed regions in Poland. The results of the research reveal weaknesses that are inherent in earlier ways of thinking about these industries and, at the same time, emphasise the importance of making use of natural resources in an integrated way and combining them with new technologies.

In the discussion of regional development factors in recent years, more and more importance has been attributed to territory, locality, site specificity and endogenous resources, as evidenced on theoretical grounds by the concept of territorial capital (Camagni 2008) and regional, place-based policy. This article aims to identify the elements of territorial capital that play a key role in the process of changing the development path of an underdeveloped region - Podkarpackie - as well as ascertaining what consequences territorial capital has for development planning within regional policy. The research highlights the importance of the immobile and intangible development factors - a high level of social capital, extensive networks and the ability to cooperate - which have helped to eliminate the limitations resulting from the weakness of other factors (especially material factors, such as private capital and low GDP).

Poland joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. By 2007, this had resulted in Poland being the greatest beneficiary of the European cohesion policy due to its low per capita GDP by purchasing power parity at the voivodeship level. The scale of European Structural and Investment Funds brought the possibility for a fundamental acceleration of socio-economic growth in Polish regions. The European Union gradually modified the directions of intervention under the framework of the European cohesion policy, initially orienting this activity principally towards cohesion, but from 2010 directing it mainly towards competitiveness. Of particular significance was the Europe 2020 strategy (2010). In Poland its arrangements were deferred until the signing of the Partnership Agreement for the period 2014-2020, which established extensive support for innovation, competitiveness and the R&D sector. In the final part of the paper, conclusions and recommendations for regional policy are elaborated.

Local innovation systems (LIS) constitute a relatively new term as usually the discussion about the systemic approach to innovation has focused on the level of countries, and most of all - regions. In this article an attempt was made to assess Polish municipalities from the perspective of their potential for development of local innovative systems. The performed factor analysis allowed characterization of five types of institution networks which may impact creation and development of LIS. The study was completed with case studies in selected voivodeship cities as centres of the highest concentration of institutions usually building local innovation systems, three of which were capitals of the poorest regions in Poland.

Research on university–business interactions has thrived in recent years, influenced by some very successful examples where they have led to the emergence of world-class clusters. However, this paper will argue that in less developed regions the most important contribution that universities can make to their regional economies is the supply of skilled human capital. Through the case study of the wine industry in Portugal, it will argue that this supply of human capital can have a significant impact on the absorptive capacity of firms, particularly SMEs. It will therefore seek to make an important contribution to academic research in this area, by outlining a relatively neglected research area. It is also relevant for policy-makers and practitioners, as it argues that innovation and regional development policies should pay more attention to the need to match skills provision by higher education institutions to business needs among SMEs.

The paper examines the concept of path dependency in policies, and seeks to examine how different pathways emerge in policy and how these change over time. It does so with reference to a case study of regional innovation policy development in Wales (UK) over a period of more than thirty years. Building on recent developments in regional studies and economic geography the paper considers whether path dependency is an inevitable feature of the policy process at the regional level. Drawing on documentary analysis and interviews with policy makers, it finds that policy decisions taken early on in the path creation phase (to support technological innovation) endure despite attempts to broaden out the pathway to a more inclusive form of innovation policy in Wales. While path dependency, most evident in core technological and R&D policy instruments, hasn’t prevented path experimentation, the findings suggest that rigidity and renewal co-exist in policies and the policy process for regional innovation over time. The findings contribute towards the growing focus on the temporal dynamics of policy change at the regional level and the complexity of policy as it seeks to address the challenge of innovation in less developed regions.

Over the past few decades, universities have been asked to become ever more involved in the development of their regions and countries, through knowledge dissemination, contribution to policy debates or even by becoming leaders in stakeholder coalitions. However, as has been often pointed out, for universities to have an impact on regional fortunes it is necessary to have an appropriate innovation ecosystem, which is often lacking in less developed regions. We approach this issue by discussing the three interrelated dimensions of knowledge supply, demand, and translational activities, through two case studies of university–business engagement in Wales. We also distinguish between narrow forms of engagement, based strictly on the commercialisation of knowledge, and contrast them with broader forms of engagement. Finally, we discuss the practical and normative challenges associated with these interactions, such as the danger of appropriation of public resources by private organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management & Innovation is the property of Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu-National Louis University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Galician Journal of Economics / Revista Galega de Economía is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Servicio de Publicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research on innovation has often concentrated on a narrow set of sectors and activities, and on the experiences of the most advanced regions in the world. However, innovation, when defined in a broad sense, incorporates a variety of processes and outputs that cut across organisational, sectoral, territorial and knowledge boundaries. This paper seeks to make a contribution to this literature by focusing on the experiences of less developed regions, and by examining how different knowledge bases contribute to technological upgrading and higher added value for firms. It argues that in regions where access to advanced knowledge and technology is restricted, or where firms do not have the absorptive capacity to access, absorb and exploit such knowledge, combining existing knowledge in innovative ways may be the best strategy for firms to become more innovative and competitive. It also argues that this combination can happen through vertical integration within the firm, or by the creation and maintenance of inter-firm mechanisms that stimulate knowledge dissemination. These themes are discussed by drawing on the evolution of the wine industry in three Portuguese regions. These regions have all experienced different trajectories, in terms of the renewal of their wine industry, and it is argued that this is in part the result of endogenous regional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on university–business interactions has thrived in recent years, influenced by some very successful examples where they have led to the emergence of world-class clusters. However, this paper will argue that in less developed regions the most important contribution that universities can make to their regional economies is the supply of skilled human capital. Through the case study of the wine industry in Portugal, it will argue that this supply of human capital can have a significant impact on the absorptive capacity of firms, particularly SMEs. It will therefore seek to make an important contribution to academic research in this area, by outlining a relatively neglected research area. It is also relevant for policy-makers and practitioners, as it argues that innovation and regional development policies should pay more attention to the need to match skills provision by higher education institutions to business needs among SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Iran’s tax system includes many forms of tax incentives, like as regionally targeted tax incentives. According to direct tax act, article 132, that includes this kind of incentive, declared taxable income of manufacturing and mining activities in less developed regions are totally (100%) exempt from corporate income tax for ten years. The aim of this study is to estimate the impact of tax exemptions of article 132 on employment of Iran’s less developed counties for the period from 1996 to 2008. In the present paper, a two- stage method is used. In the first stage, a proper control group is selected for each treated county by using Synthetic Control Method (SCM) and Genetic algorithm, and the impact of tax incentives article 132 on employment in Iran’s less developed regions is estimated via Difference in Difference (DID) Method, in the second stage. Results indicate that tax exemptions in mentioned Article have no impact on employment of Iran’s less developed counties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Regional imbalance is a typical feature of economic and social development in China, and place-based policies aimed at promoting balanced regional development may bring challenges to low-carbon goals. This study uses the panel data of China's prefecture-level cities from 2003 to 2019 to investigate the impact of place-based policies on carbon emission efficiency using a quasi-experimental method. Results indicate that place-based policies significantly reduce the regional total-factor carbon emission efficiency. The difference-in-differences method based on propensity score matching and entropy balancing matching consistently supports the finding that carbon emission efficiency decreases after policy intervention. Place-based policies lead to a significant decline in capital allocation efficiency but have an insignificant impact on labor allocation efficiency. Moreover, place-based policies result in the expansion of carbon-intensive industries but hinder the progress of the financial technology of financial institutions. Nevertheless, place-based policies do not lead to the deterioration of environmental quality. Among the advantages of these policies are the significant promotion of regional digitization and increased fiscal expenditure on science and technology. Political promotion, carbon regulation, trade policies, and other conditional factors may be optimally designed to promote low-carbon development in the old revolutionary areas.

Entrepreneurial activity has been documented as an important mechanism to achieve poverty alleviation. In line with this, providing access to entrepreneurial finance for disadvantaged groups has been a prominent policy tool. The advent of digital finance may prove a game changer in that it could substantially lower the threshold to access entrepreneurial finance, particularly for disadvantaged entrepreneur who have a hard time accessing formal sources of finance. This study explores whether the availability of digital finance indeed increases the propensity and the quality of entrepreneurship among Chinese migrants. The paper applies data of the China Migrants Dynamic Survey in 2018 and the China's digital financial inclusion index. The results show that local digital financial development is indeed positively associated with entrepreneurial probability and quality. Moreover, the three sub-dimensions of digital finance (e.g., breadth of coverage, depth of use and level of digitization) also increase the likelihood of migrants' entrepreneurship. From the perspective of entrepreneurial motivation, digital finance has a significant positive impact on not only the migrants' choice of necessity-based entrepreneurship, but also on the selection of opportunity-based entrepreneurship. In addition, this paper finds that the facilitating role of digital finance on entrepreneurship is more prominent for migrants who lived in rural regions, with lower educational levels, experienced cross-provincial mobility, not belonging to a member of party organization and whose parents do not have good education background and local hukou, which reflects the inclusiveness of digital finance in reversing the financing disadvantage of vulnerable groups. Though this study is set in the context of China, the principle that access to digital finance increases the propensity of entrepreneurship as well as its quality likely translates to other contexts in the developing world. • The rise of digital finance has provided more diversified financing sources for the entrepreneurship of disadvantaged groups. • We explore the role of digital finance development on the entrepreneurial behavior of Chinese migrants from multiple levels. • Digital finance is conducive to enhancing the entrepreneurial probability and quality of migrants in less developed areas. • The sub-dimensions of breadth of coverage, depth of use and level of digitization can promote the migrants' entrepreneurship. • Digital finance development promotes both migrants' necessity-based entrepreneurship and opportunity-based entrepreneurship. • It is more prominent for migrants in rural regions, with lower educational levels or experienced cross-provincial mobility. • It is more significant for migrants who are not party members or parents without good education background and local hukou. • The inclusiveness of digital finance in stimulating entrepreneurship can inspire common prosperity for developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional Innovation Strategies 3 (RIS3) are intended to promote the economic transformation of European Union (EU) regions, particularly those that are lagging in development. The introduction of RIS3 has not been without its critics. This is not unexpected given its rapid, and, for some, rather hasty, move from conceptual idea to mainstream EU policy. This paper explores the introduction of the RIS3 approach in North East Romania, one of the EU’s least developed regions. Whilst Romania has launched a national RIS3, the Regional Development Agency for North East Romania also voluntarily embarked upon a process of developing a regional RIS3 for the North East region. This provides a valuable opportunity to explore different spatial dimensions of the smart specialization approach and offers the opportunity to consider the extent to which active and well-regarded research actors can act as anchors to a RIS3 approach in a less developed region. The paper argues that whilst the experience of developing a regional RIS3 offers strong learning benefits, the effectiveness of this will be dependent on supporting institutional structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of its small size, Slovenia is marked by major regional differences. On one hand, there are devel-oped urban areas where the majority of economic activities are concentrated, and on the other, extensive rural areas are left to depopulation and the deterioration of the cultural landscape. In the desire to elim-inate these disparities, implementation of a regional policy was initiated at the beginning of the 1970's based on the polycentric development of cities and towns and on specific laws to stimulate regional devel-opment. The intention of this article is to describe these laws and evaluate them using a SWOT analysis.

The paper sets out the need for professional administrative decision-making on various EU comparable actions for Slovenia’s countryside, prioritising less developed, difficult accessible areas, where the population is stagnating or falling. The opportunity to put this into practice comes from a new type of expert material for project work in rural areas in the regional hinterlands of towns with the working title of “Regulation Plans for Cultural Landscapes” (RN kk). The Regulation Plans for Cultural Landscapes are developed according to criteria based on an “overall approach for overall development”. The documents function as planning and regulating documents, filling a gap that exists in the expert field between the established approach to town planning (regulatory town plans) and similar approaches to forest management. The preparation of RN kk documents has been tested in practice.

The aim of this paper is to discover how regions can change innovation process models and whether less developed regions can, in this sense, break out of the negative path dependency. This paper is one of the few to investigate path dependency from a regional rather than from an industry or product perspective. The application of Ward metrics revealed seven innovation process models that can be combined into three groups according to different regional circumstances, in which: (1) knowledgeintensive services are the main carriers of the innovation processes, (2) innovation processes are mostly expressed through manufacturing, and (3) transitions from one type of innovation process into another are the dominant characteristics. Results indicate that there are indeed many examples of path dependency breakthroughs. They occur mostly in the transition group, and could evolve into either one of the other two groups. The research revealed two types of manufacturing regions, namely low-tech and high-tech. It also confirmed that less developed regions fall within the low-tech model called 'primary-sector-based manufacturing regions' and face difficulties when phasing into higher-tech models, e.g. only 4% of all transitions are from this model. It is therefore challenging to break out of a negative path dependency. Moreover, the research signified that the reasons for growth are model specific. Therefore, when aiming to achieve an innovation process model transition, regional policies should be tailored accordingly; thus, an evolutionary, staged process of regional policy would be worth researching further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All across the world rural areas face serious issues of economic and demographical change. Rural tourism is seen as potential source of social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits for rural areas. The tourism activity can create growth potentials for rural areas; it can provide income for local businesses, help to protect the traditional values and the community assets and help to sustain local services. The present paper explores the potentials and economic possibilities of rural tourism in view of regional development and it evaluates weather rural tourism can be the driving factor in integrated sustainable development especially for the so called less favored/ developed areas. The first part of the paper approaches a study of the particularities of rural areas in the context of defining the concept rural tourism, while the second one presents the potentials of rural tourism in light of regional development in the Republic of Macedonia. The second part includes a detailed analysis of the projects for rural tourism financed through the Bureau for Regional Development of Republic of Macedonia, as a main operational capacity in the implementation of regional policy in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]