Collaborative innovation as a tool for environmental, economic and social sustainability in regional governance

Authors

  • Hege Hofstad Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research
  • Jacob Torfing Roskilde University and University of Nordland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v19i4.14992

Keywords:

Regional governance, Sustainability, Collaborative innovation, Wicked and unruly problems

Abstract

In the Scandinavian countries, the regional level of governance is neither the locus of large-scale policy reforms nor a significant provider of welfare to citizens. Nevertheless, it has some important policy tasks in the area of environmental, economic, and social sustainability. These policy areas are rife with wicked and unruly problems that combine cognitive uncertainties with the risk of political conflict and stalemate. Dealing with these problems requires the construction of network arenas in which a range of public and private actors can collaborate in order to find innovative solutions to common problems. The paper analyses the efforts of Norwegian regions to enhance collaborative innovation through the formation of interactive governance arenas. It compares three different policy areas in order to better understand how different forms of interactive governance enhance collaborative innovation for economic, social and environmental sustainability. The ultimate goal is to assess the ability and potential of Norwegian regions to solve wicked and unruly problems through collaborative innovation.

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Author Biographies

Hege Hofstad, Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research

Hege Hofstad is senior researcher at Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research and associate professor at University of Life Sciences in Norway (PhD in political science, University of Oslo). Her research is centered round implementation and development of public health, sustainability and climate change at local and regional level with a specific focus on cross sector/cross level coordination through planning and network governance.

 

Jacob Torfing, Roskilde University and University of Nordland

Jacob Torfing is professor in politics and institutions at Roskilde University and professor II at University of Nordland. He is director of Center for Democratic Network Governance at Roskilde University. His research interests include local governance, policy and governance reform, network governance and metagovernance and collaborative innovation.

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Published

2015-12-15

How to Cite

Hofstad, H., & Torfing, J. (2015). Collaborative innovation as a tool for environmental, economic and social sustainability in regional governance. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 19(4), 49–70. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v19i4.14992

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