Leveraging National Opportunities for Regional Transformation: Multi-Scalar System-building and Legitimation in a Swiss Industrial Town

Morisson, Arnault; Gong, Huiwen (2023). Leveraging National Opportunities for Regional Transformation: Multi-Scalar System-building and Legitimation in a Swiss Industrial Town. European planning studies, 32(3), pp. 607-628. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/09654313.2023.2247023

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European regions are currently confronted with significant challenges stemming from the green transition and technological disruption. These challenges impose growing pressure on regions to restructure their economies and transition towards more sustainable and innovative modes of production. While the existing literature extensively addresses regional transformation, less attention has been devoted to understanding how actors can effectively leverage opportunities available at different scales to facilitate regional transformation. This study focuses on the ongoing transformation of Biel/Bienne, an industrial town in Switzerland, to illustrate how regional actors have seized two institutional opportunities at the national level based on competitive calls to drive regional transformation. The study emphasizes the importance of multiscalar system-building and legitimation efforts undertaken by regional stakeholders in perceiving and leveraging these national opportunities.
Keywords: windows of opportunity, competitive call, legitimation, system building, Switzerland.

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