High-tech left behind? Lessons from the Ruhr cybersecurity ecosystem for approaches to develop "left behind" places

Anna Butzin and Franz Flögel

No 22/04, IAT Discussion Papers from Institut Arbeit und Technik (IAT), Westfälische Hochschule, University of Applied Sciences

Abstract: The attention to "left behind" places triggered a debate about alternative development approaches. Unlike prosperous regions and their prioritisation on high-tech sectors, strategies for left behind places should shift to the foundational economy, community-based social innovation and well-being. While supporting this emphasis, we see a tendency to neglect importance of research and teaching in high-tech areas for developing left behind places. Our case study in the old industrial region Ruhr shows, how unrelated initial funding for cutting-edge research sparked the development of today's cybersecurity ecosystem. The ecosystem contributes to a positive identification within the region and a dynamic start-up landscape.

Keywords: left behind places; entrepreneurial ecosystem; cybersecurity; hightech sectors; regional development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O18 O31 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ent, nep-geo, nep-sbm and nep-ure
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:iatdps:2204

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