From problems to opportunities: a place-based approach to transformative innovation policy

Elvira Uyarra

Chapter 6 in Research Handbook on Regions and Transformative Innovation Policy, 2026, pp 86-101 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the role of place in shaping transformative innovation policy. It argues that societal challenges are place-specific and that effective policy responses require going beyond a narrow focus on technological capabilities. Drawing on a problem-oriented approach, the chapter foregrounds the importance of problem framing, valuation, and market formation processes in steering the direction of innovation and economic development within regions. It pays particular attention to the spatial and scalar dimensions of these processes and to the role of intermediaries and place-based actors in constructing markets and legitimating new solutions. It proposes that regional innovation and industrial policy should engage more broadly with local problems, values, and social assets — including through demand-side instruments such as public procurement. The chapter concludes by discussing the implications for policy intervention and the promise and challenges of adopting a problem-oriented regional industrial strategy.

Keywords: Transformative innovation policy; Problem orientation; Smart Specialisation; Mission-oriented innovation policy; Demand side; Public procurement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309924
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