Regional Identity and Limitation in Culture: The Case of Poitou-Charentes

Poitou-Charentes has been facing a difficult economic situation since its was set up as a new administrative entity due to a structural inheritance which is mainly characterised by traditional specialisation in primary sector activities and taylorist industries implemented into the region under technocrat decentralisation strategies since the 1960s. Likewise in political terms, the process of region-building seems to be still in the making and appropriate support of innovation can be guaranteed only to a minor extend by regional resources. While traditionally the University of Poitiers had been the focal point for research and education in the region, the capacities have become more extended and dispersed in recent years. However, university education, techno-scientific research, and application in industry are not sufficiently interrelated in order to meet the requirements for a sustainable regionalisation of modern skill-based socio-economic development.