Next generation regional innovation policy: how to combine science and user driven approaches in regional innovation systems

The chapter argues that the next generation of regional innovation policy is a broad based innovation policy. Such a policy means complementing a science and technology driven policy with a more demandbased, user-driven innovation policy. Finland has pioneered such a policy in its new innovation strategy. This reorientation is in line with the innovation system perspective extending the definition of innovation to include innovation as interactive learning. It is also in line with new research confirming that combining the two modes of innovation seems to be the most efficient. The unanswered question is, however, how this can be achieved? In combining the two modes of innovation the cognitive distance between the two modes become crucial. The chapter argues that two ‘bridging mechanism’ could assist in achieving an optimal cognitive distance as a conditions for combining the two modes. The first consists of acknowledging that the science and technology mode is not only restricted to scientific knowledge, but that also, applied and engineering research has to be included. The second is to realize that learning can be developmental and not only reproductive and that learning work organizations have an innovative potential for generating such learning.