sustainable growth and regional development regional policy contributing to sustainable growth in...
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Sustainable Growth and
Regional Development
Regional Policy contributing to sustainable growth in Europe 2020,
Brussels, 18 February 2011Kevin Morgan
School of City and Regional PlanningCardiff University
Sustainable growth - a global concept
The idea of sustainable development is not new
Globally, it was mainstreamed in 2 ways: Brundtland Report (1987) Earth Summit (1992)
Rio 20+ in 2012 aims to give new momentum to the concept for the future as well as reflecting on the past
Sustainable growth in the EU
In the EU the 1993 White Paper on Growth called for “a new sustainable development model”
The traditional model had 2 fatal flaws: the “underuse” of labour resources the “overuse” of natural resources
Clean technology was the key Need to decouple growth from
“overuse” of natural resources
Sustainable growth/open innovation Sustainable growth needs new models of
innovation Old and new models of innovation co-exist
Linear model (science push, silo-based) Open model (outsourcing R&D/network-based)
Open innovation model can help EU to overcome its key weakness – commercializing its world class research base
Innovation Union policies can help – by fostering better partnerships throughout the innovation cycle
Sustainable growth/regional policy
Regional policy has helped EU regions to cope with multiple challenges, especially: The infrastructure deficit The employment deficit The innovation deficit
Europe 2020 could help the regions to address the sustainability deficit
Eco-innovation/smart specialisation for all regions
“Europe begins in its regions and cities” (Committee of the Regions)
Sustainable growth/regional level
The regional level is best placed to know its problems and its potential for sustainable growth innovation and green growth (new
partnerships between research, business and government)
public sector (needs to be less risk-averse)
social innovation (needs to harness the skills of the social business sector to engage less favoured areas and people, especially young people)
resource efficiency (water is a priority ecosystem service)
Sustainable growth/national level
Regional development is a multi-level challenge
Subsidiarity means sharing responsibility not shedding it (esp during a green transition)
Member state governments can make a difference in many ways, especially: Promoting policy synergies (joined-up policy) Creating clear and demanding regulations Brokering accessible financial instruments Deploying the power of purchase (green
procurement) Fostering open innovation/social innovation
Sustainable growth/the EU level
The EU level can best add value by promoting the key priorities of Europe 2020 - smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
EU can add value by doing what member states cannot do – help regions to engage in knowledge sharing networks beyond national borders
Promoting unity-in diversity is the key task: unity helps us to get ahead together diversity helps us to become more resilient since
homogeneity breeds fragility
Key conclusions Sustainable growth is more an opportunity
than a threat to less favoured regions (LFRs) The biggest threat lies in thinking the status
quo is a viable option for the future Regional policy can help LFRs to become
smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive
But in the new era we need to remember some old truths: there is no single measure of best practice (so no
one best pathway for regions) regional development needs more sustainable
metrics (GDP per capita does not capture quality of life)