Breaking the Waves: Innovating at the Intersections of Economic Development

Abstract

State and local economic development is often conceptualized as a series of successive waves, with each wave representing distinct policy priorities. In this study, we rework the standard wave metaphor to recognize the gains for regional economies when practitioners reach across established boundaries to work together to create a strategy mix. We present a case from North Carolina biosciences to demonstrate the contribution to regional industrial specialization when specialists combine their respective knowledge of entrepreneurship and industrial recruitment and coordinate development practice. More than an adjustment to tightening budget constraints or intensifying political demand, strategy mixing allows practitioners to extend and capture greater gains from state support for innovation. This case study provides an illustrative example for how other regions can advance innovative industry by bringing seemingly distinct development tools and targets into closer alignment.

Behind the Scenes: Intermediary Organizations that Facilitate Science Commercialization Through Entrepreneurship

“…As a quasipublic nonprofit, the Biotech Center has the option to secure additional funding, including federal research grants. This nonprofit structure has enabled the Biotech Center to position itself as less partisan, and thus retain state support even during changing political environments (Lowe & Feldman, 2015). Another example of a successful quasi-public coordinating and networking program is San Diego CONNECT.…”

Exploring the Trade-Offs Local Governments Make in the Pursuit of Economic Growth and Equity

“…The second metaphor explaining economic development policy change suggests governments layer new policies atop old ones as policy demanders emerge across the local government landscape (Isserman 1993;Lowe and Feldman 2018). As these new actors and policy exchange dynamics materialize, older policy arrangements may become less attractive but remain in existence nonetheless.…”

Anchoring the innovation impacts of public procurement to place: The role of conversations

“…In contrast, Lember et al (2011) found that many Nordic-Baltic Sea cities boosted innovation when using procurement to pursue other social and environmental policy aims. Policy conflict may, according to Lowe and Feldman (2015), motivate a creative search for new solutions (and resources) that bring together multiple players and perspectives towards a common ground. Cities and regions can provide the arena where those problems and solutions are framed and where policy tensions may be negotiated and creatively resolved.…”