Conference: Learning in Regional Development, Innovation and Place Making
KVL - Oisterwijk , The Netherlands
10 - 11 March 2016
We would like to invite you to attend the conference on learning and regional development. The
conference will take place on 10-11 March 2016 in the Leerfabriek in Oisterwijk (KVL).
A range of issues now transcend the regional level, yet also demand action and solutions at the regional
level - issues such as climate change, the conservation of biodiversity, reinforcing social resilience, the
energy transition, economic restructuring and technological innovation. In order to find answers in
current practice in area development and regional innovation, strategies are emerging that are
characterized by concepts such as co-creation, open innovation, learning regions, and triple and
quadruple helixes. The region is increasingly seen as a platform where local, regional, national and
international networks all converge, and where new knowledge can be generated and exchanged.
This often occurs through the implementation of pilot projects. However, there is often a tendency to
jump from one pilot project to another, without fully benefiting from the opportunity to reflect and
learn. We need new models for knowledge-in-action that focus on 'learning by doing' and create
connections between knowledge that is acquired through practice at the regional level and global
networks. This does not imply the imposition of 'functionalist' or 'instrumental' knowledge (outside-in),
but rather the use of 'evaluative' and 'reflexive' knowledge. Experiences and lessons can be exchanged,
and activities that are currently often carried out in isolation from one another can be brought into a
network.
This conference is our contribution to this process. The question is: how can the position of 'learning'
(the development of knowledge in action) be structured within the framework of regional innovation
and development?
This conference will bring together academics from Europe and professionals working in area
development and regional innovation in the Province of Noord-Brabant with the goal of building these
connections. The conference is a joint initiative by Telos (Tilburg University), the SDIN Network and the
Province of Noord-Brabant. Other participants will include NederLandBovenWater, Agro Food Capital,
Wageningen UR (Rural Sociology Group) and Eindhoven University of Technology.
The workshops and paper sessions are targeted at academic researchers and professionals within the
field of regional development and innovation. Upon receipt of a registration form, the participant
receives a confirmation e-mail within 5 days. Public lectures are open.
Link to the online Registration Form
Link to Practical information
Link to Call for Abstracts
Thursday 10 March 2016
12.00
Registration and light lunch (Kafe van Leer)
13.00
Kick off by Hans Mommaas
13.15
Keynote speaker, Maarten Hajer, Faculty Professor of Urban Futures at Utrecht
University. Title: 'How do Cities Learn? Missing Imaginaries and New Agents of Change'
14.00
Five parallel workshops involving cases from professional practice in Noord-Brabant
Workshop 1: Agro&food Capital Northeast Brabant. Carel Nobbe, Liesbeth de Theije
(AgriFood Capital), and Paul Benneworth (UTwente)
Workshop 2: Learning and leadership. Ina Horlings (Wageningen UR) - Language dutch (participation in this workshop: by invitation only!)
Workshop 3: High-tech cluster connected to society. Steef Blok (TU/e: Eindhoven University
of Technology), Joep Brouwers (Brainport Development), Clément Goossens (TU/e), Student
Team Fast (TU/e).
Workshop 4: Learning in area development: lessons for a more involved Government. (Peter
van Rooy NLBW, Wouter de Groot and Luuk Knippenberg from Radboud University) Language dutch Workshop 5: Multi-level governance of the energy transition: the challenges of implementing
innovations from the bottom up. Martijn Groenleer (Regional Law and Governance, Tilburg
University and TiREG).
16.00
Coffee break
Public Lectures and debate
16.30
Keynote speaker, Frank Moulaert, Professor of Spatial Planning at the Research
Centre on Planning and Development at the University of Leuven. Title “Territorial
Innovation Models: the importance of being ‘conservative’ “
17.00
Panel discussion with keynote speakers and Professor Emile Aarts (Rector Magnificus
Tilburg University), Peter Struik (Chairman BZW), Regional Government, Universities
and members of the Business Community
18.00
Drinks
19.00
Conference dinner (by invitation)
Friday 11 March 2016 - Paper sessions
Scientific section of the conference, during which members of the SDIN network and researchers
involved in place-making present papers.
The goal of this session is to arrive at new insights on the organization of learning processes in the
region and its networks. The call for abstracts you can find on our website (www.telos.nl).
09.00
Welcome with coffee
Keynote
09.30 – 10.00
Prof. David Charles, University of Lincoln
Regional Development and Regional Entrepreneurship
General Papers
10.00 – 10.20
Prof. Arnoud Lagendijk and Dr. Miranda Ebbekink, Nijmegen University
Orchestrating “Strategic Coupling”: A Shared, Place-Based Leadership Approach of
Regional Cluster Governance
10.20 – 10.40
Franziska Eckardt Msc. And Dr. Paul Benneworth, University of Twente
Talking About Kennispark: Understanding Expat Campus Stories to Explore Global
Science Spaces’ Symbolic Attractiveness for Highly Skilled Migrants
10.40 – 11.00
Tanja Emonts, STIRR
Intervision Meetings for Sustainable Regional Development: An Evaluation
11.00 - 11.30
Coffee break
11.30 – 11.50
Prof. Päivi Oinas, University of Turku
Learning, Transformation and Resilience on Oulu, Finland
11.50 – 12.10
Prof. Martina Fromhold-Eisebith, RWTH Aachen University
Engaging powers of complexity: How a key individual can shape the innovation
performance of an entire region
12.10 – 12.30
Dr. Roel Rutten, Tilburg University
Proximities Approach: A Critical Assessment
12.30
Lunch