Under 2003 fick CIEL – Centrum för Innovation, Entreprenörskap och Lärande – vid Högskolan i Halmstad finansiering från Vinnova för ett forskningsprojekt om utvecklings- och innovationsnätverk i Halland. Projektet fick namnet Lärande, ledarskap och jämställdhet i regionala innovationssystem och resulterade år 2007 i en rapport. Efter projektets slut väcktes tanken om att ytterligare sprida erfarenheterna från arbetet till olika utvecklingsaktörer i länet. Nya medel från Vinnova gjorde en sådan fortsättning möjlig.

Projektet Lärdomar av utvecklingsnätverk – spridning av erfarenheter genomfördes under 2008 och syftade till att på ett reflekterande sätt sprida och diskutera erfarenheter från modeller och ansatser för innovationsledd tillväxtpolitik. De aspekter som stod i fokus var ledning, lärande och jämställdhet. Projektets mål var att öka medvetenheten hos utvecklingsaktörer i Halland om betydelsen av dessa aspekter samt att skapa en dialog om konkreta åtgärder vid planering av framtida projekt och program. 

There are different forms for boundary-crossing learning in and between organizations. One growing form is network. This paper will present a study of collective learning in two innovative networks at the west coast of Sweden. One network is about regional health and growth, the other about leadership development among general directors. Representatives from different organizations meet to learn from each other’s practice. How does this learning take place? What supports and what prevents it? Does it have any effects in their own organizations? Data has been collected through questionnaires, observations, systematic reflections and focus interviews. Results show that the participants express great satisfaction with their outcomes on a personal base. It gives them inspiration, ideas, knowledge and contacts. It also gives them support, strength and self-confidence. One important factor in this context is differences. The participants are coming from different organizations, have different perspectives and experiences. The findings show interesting variances between the two networks that has effects on the type of learning. A problem is the transformation of learning from the network, by the participants into their organizations. There seems to be some important learning barriers. This will be further discussed in the paper.

In 1997 a new university law imposed Swedish universities a third mission. In addition to research and teaching, universities now have to “collaborate with the surrounding society”.

This new law was quite indistinct which raises questions about how, how much and in what way the co-operation between university and society should be performed. What obstacles and possibilities are there for real deep cooperation between such different cultures as the academic sector, the commercial private sector and the political public sector?

In our paper we reflect upon the collaboration between research and practice from two different processes where we have been involved as action researchers. Both these processes were aimed to bridge the gap between the academic world and the industry and public sector. We reflect upon our role as researchers in relation to the role of the practitioners. What were our different incentives and expectations when entering a joint learning process? What did we learn and what different knowledge was there to serve our different needs?

We discuss the two cases by highlighting the research methods, where researchers and practitioners in joint action take part in development processes, and how these processes both contribute theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge to as well academy as working life. But we also discuss the difficulties in handling the role as action researcher and the problems faced when people from different cultures and with different expectations act together. 

Hur ska kommunerna ges ett inflytande och involveras i det regionala tillväxtarbetet i en region där fullmäktiges mandat kommer direkt från väljarna? Vilka är framgångsfaktorer för en effektiv samverkan mellan region och kommuner? Vilka erfarenheter kan man ta med sig från dagens regioner och från samverkansorganens arbete? Dessa frågor har hög aktualitet när man diskuterar att föra över det regionala utvecklingsansvaret till landstingen.

Christiania is a controversial place for alternative living and an important tourist place. As such, the place performs different types of images and ideologies. The purpose with this study is to use the guided tour as a tool for exploring the relation between the multiple voices performing the place of Christiania as a complex discursive and embodied place and niche branding processes.

Purpose: Place marketing approaches are increasingly employed by public authorities competing to attract capital. While a growing number of studies have provided valuable insights, scholars appear to be struggling to advance their theoretical understanding. This is arguably the result of failure to produce evidence-based research, excessive focus on small-scale case studies, difficulties bridging disciplinary boundaries, and reluctance to advance generalizations. To overcome these problems, we present a framework that can be used to generate empirically testable hypotheses and thereby provide a structure for research.

Design/methodology/approach: A brief literature review first identifies obstacles that prevent place marketing research from making significant progress. Second, to overcome these obstacles, we identify the need to consider spatial competition for capital, which has, remarkably, been overlooked. Third, drawing on these insights, a conceptual framework is presented. Fourth, from this framework, six propositions are deduced that may enable the development of a theory of place marketing.

Findings: This work first identifies the need for a more rigorous approach to the scientific study of place marketing. Second, a conceptual framework is suggested, based on spatial competition for capital. Third, we demonstrate that testable hypotheses can be deduced from the framework to provide a structure for research. Arguably, empirically testing such hypotheses would significantly advance our understanding of place marketing.

Originality/value: This paper identifies a feasible way to structure future research that should interest place marketing researchers seeking a more rigorous approach to theoretical advancement.

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