Innovation and Sustainable Regional Development

The course offers different perspectives on innovation and regional development, together with a discussion on how this relates to the actions and strategies of enterprises, and the policies and support schemes developed by regional authorities and governments. A key concept in the course is just sustainable transitions, which is discussed in relation to regional industry, employment and natural environment. The subject thematizes the relationship between theory and practice by exemplifying theories with relevant cases.

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

• has deep insight in to the relationship between innovation and sustainable transition, endogenous and exogenous development processes and regional policy implementation.

Skills:

• is able to critically use theories and research findings in the fields of innovation and sustainable development, and is able to formulate relevant research questions in relation to their own project.

General competence:

• has deeper insight into the mutual relationships between innovation, local- and regional development, sustainable restructuring processes, and regional-, environmental- and innovation policy.

Up to 18 hours lectures and 1 seminar.