Studia KPZK

The paper presents the research concept and the key questions the team put forward during the implementation of the project entitled ‘Changing innovation processes models: a chance to break out of dependency paths for less developed regions’. In this chapter, research hypotheses, key concepts concerning the theory of path dependence, a review of the enablers and barriers in shaping development paths regarding the individual parts of the research project are indicated. There are also references to public policy proposals that can support the development of the peripheral paths of the peripheral regions as well as future research concepts of this issue.

This article reviews the literature on the relationship between the region’s innovation and its development. Various concepts are discussed in the scheme of the four forces of regional and local competitiveness. The main determinants of the region’s innovation and competitiveness can be viewed in a four-force system: domination forces when the region exploits its advantage over others, network power – when the development potential is strengthened by cooperation, external demand and internal resources. In this framework of literature analysis, the article points to both entities and processes that represent the possibilities of the „innovation being” region.

The aim of this paper is to show importance of european cohesion policy on development trajectories of Polish regions after accession to EU in 2004. Following issues are tackled in paper: territorial elements of new paradigm of EU regional policy, evidence of EU assistance to less developed regions in Poland, cohesion patterns in Poland, impact of European cohesion policy on trajectories development of polish regions.

The aim of the research was to identify factors favouring the change of innovation process models by diff erent regions, especially less developed regions. The chapter addresses the most critical issues in the literature of path dependence and resilience. Literature analysis allowed to identify the puzzling areas of the existing research and build out of them a transparent and holistic approach to a comprehensive set of conditions for the transformation of regional development paths. Findings of the research are an important step in understanding nonlinear and holistic processes of the renewal and creation of the regional development paths, as well as explaining how adaptation to short-term shocks and long-term adaptability is the result of the interactions among path dependency, event exposure and reactive ability.

The aim of the research is to conceptualise the methodology of analysing regional development paths. To do so, the model of regional development path transformation was created. The model consists of indicators describing each of the process areas: 1) path dependency; 2) event exposure; 3) adaptation to short-term shocks; 4) long-term adaptability, and 5) region performance. The model also indicates relationships between these indicators and describes the most probable behaviours of the regional economies during the process.

This chapter provides a quantitative analysis to identify weak regions that have changed the innovation model. The analysis was carried out at the beginning of the project, in 2015, when only data on GDP per capita for the EU regions was available until 2011. It was designed to identify regions that have changed the innovation model for their in-depth qualitative research, that is to prepare case studies. To indicate the development paths of European regions, a comparative analysis of means was prepared. Innovation models and their change were indicated by clusters analysis. In addition, an econometric analysis of growth factors in the EU regions covering data on GDP per capita in the EU regions in 2014 was carried out in 2017.

Less developed regions hardly break out of path dependency. These regions encounter a serious number of problems hampering the possibility to accelerate their growth. Thus, the aim of the paper is to analyse the possibility of changing development paths by less developed regions based on previous experience in recent years. Regions that managed to change the development path were characterized by a coherent regional policy, a very good preparation and education of human capital, a strong centre of the region (the metropolitan area) facilitating the development of entrepreneurship and innovation based on new industries (like service industries) and demand for manufactured goods and services. At the same time, the main city in the region must bridge the developing new path and the global world – it must provide physical and virtual accessibility for the whole region.

The main research question in this article concerns the factors responsible for development of Brandenburg in the last 15 years, which enable to divert the region from its previous development model. For answering this question the method of individual, in-depth interviews with the main actors on the regional scene was used, supported by desk research and statistical data analysis. The development of Brandenburg was strongly infl uenced by external factors as consequences of functioning under the conditions of centrally planned economy and façade democracy (as GDR), the unifi cation of Germany, the necessity of transformation and restructuring with strong support of external funding, finally moving the capital city of Germany to Berlin. However of crucial importance was a conscious, pragmatic and consistently implemented policy of the regional authorities based on the idea of territorial and sectoral concentration (instead of the idea Gieβkanneprinzip).

In 1994-2000 Galicia region was among the weakest regions with a GDP per capita below the median of the European countries, that gained a strong increase in GDP in subsequent years. Thus, the aim of the article is to identify factors which had an impact on the change of Galicia’s development path as well as to indicate barriers limiting further development. The article is based on a desk research, statistical data analysis as well as structured in-depth interviews conducted with representatives of regional and local authorities, scientifi c units and business-related institutions. The findings show that there was no shock that could become a direct cause for a change in the innovation process model of Galicia. The success of the transformation could be seen in attracting automotive and shipbuilding industries decades ago and the creation of a strong knowledge base. The case study of Galicia shows that even with a diffi cult history and only a few pillars of the economy, it is possible to grow faster than other regions in Europe.

The study presents a change of innovation model in the highly developed region of the European Union Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy. The paper presents the innovation system and the outline of the region’s economic history, as well as the factors that preceded the change in innovation model, the direct causes of the change, and the impact of institutional factors as well as the development barriers. The analyzes were based on interviews with 14 representatives of regional and local authorities, innovation and entrepreneurship support institutions, universities, R&D units and a cluster from the region, as well as statistical data and source material.

The article is an attempt at analyzing the development processes of the French peripheral region, Nord-Pas-de-Calais. This region has been a subject of regional policy for many years, including significant public and private sector investments to help transform the economy. The analysis of key events in the context of the path dependency theory shows that, despite a marked increase in innovation, socio-economic development and some investment success, for the region located between Paris, London and Brussels it is very diffi cult to compete for growth factors.