Harnessing Societal Innovativeness for Transformative Regional Development

In this discussion paper, we explore the concept of ‘societal innovativeness’ as a key driver of transformative regional development, particularly within the context of regions facing structural weaknesses. Our explorative study delves into the multifaceted nature of societal innovativeness, which encompasses a broad range of social, cultural, and institutional factors that collectively enable regions to address complex societal challenges. We propose a comprehensive conceptual framework that identifies six core components—values and norms, capabilities, power relations, system-level agency, narratives and imaginaries, and exogenous factors—as integral to fostering societal innovativeness. By establishing a theoretical foundation, we aim to bridge theoretical concepts with practical applications, offering pathways for regions to enhance their innovative capacities. Our hypotheses, grounded in this framework, emphasise the interplay between these components, aiming to encourage inclusive and sustainable regional development. Future research, through empirical testing across diverse regional contexts, will further validate and refine this framework, thereby enhancing its applicability and providing valuable insights into practical strategies that empower regions to navigate and thrive amidst societal challenges.