The Role of Resilience in Regional Innovation System

Abstract

It has been recognized that regional innovation systems (RIS) policies can contribute to the adaptation of regional economies and therefore their economic resilience. As changes in international competition and shifts in consumer demand transform conditions, a resilient economy is considered to be successful if it can withstand these inevitable adaptations over time. For socio-ecological systems, resilience requires the amount of change that a system undergo while retaining its structure and functions, the degree to which it can reorganize, and the degree to which it can create and sustain the capacity to learn and adapt. Policymakers are beginning to take interest in the concept of resilience as it explores the factors that influence the internal development of a region by seeking to understand the external factors that affect the ability of a region to respond to change. With this understanding, more effective policy formulation and the establishment of appropriate governance structures are made possible to effectively accommodate and facilitate change. To advance our theoretical understanding of the importance of resilience in regional innovation systems, which usually comprises economic and intangible value, this study provides theoretical analysis and a holistic review of resilience and RIS research. This paper makes two major contributions: First, it delivers a comprehensive review of resilience in economic theory and innovation studies, as the measurement of resilience has yet to be explored in this context in great detail. Second it illustrates the critical role of resilience in RIS.