Public innovation through governance in place-based competitiveness policymaking: The case of Bizkaia Orekan

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between collaborative governance arrangements for place-based competitiveness and public innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper combines a conceptual discussion of the links between collaborative governance, competitiveness policy and public innovation with a case study analysis of a specific governance process that aims at adapting policy to respond to local competitiveness challenges in the Basque province of Biscay.

Findings

The conceptual discussion leads to the hypothesis of a new distinction with respect to how governance relates to public innovation. Innovation can occur in governance, through governance or with governance. The analysis of the case supports this distinction. Multi-actor collaboration for competitiveness policymaking (innovation in governance) has led to policy innovation (innovation through governance). This has also promoted emerging administrative changes that could be conducive to a more innovative public sector in general (innovation with governance). These findings validate arguments posed by proponents of collaborative innovation that suggest that multi-actor collaboration is a driver for public sector innovation.

Originality/value

The value of the paper rests on linking theoretically and empirically two relevant and currently popular phenomena: networked governance for place-based competitiveness policymaking and public sector innovation. The paper provides original insights from the practice of building a process for context-sensitive policymaking that can inspire practitioners with similar problems.

Citation

Arrona, A., Franco, S. and Wilson, J.R. (2020), "Public innovation through governance in place-based competitiveness policymaking: The case of Bizkaia Orekan", Competitiveness Review, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 119-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-03-2018-0023