Usual apologies for cross postings.
Applications are invited for an ESRC CASE Studentship at
the University of Hull in partnership with Yorkshire
Forward (Regional Development Agency). Closing date for
applications 27 April 2001. Interviews will be held in
May. Informal enquires to Professor David Gibbs
([log in to unmask], 01482 465330) or Dr. Sally Eden
([log in to unmask], 01482 466067). The studentship
comprises the standard ESRC grant plus an additional £1450
per annum. Details of the project outlined below.
The Potential Contribution of Eco-Industrial Parks to Local
and Regional Development
This project will examine the development of a recent
policy initiative that has attempted to integrate economic,
social and environmental aims - the eco-industrial park
(EIP). EIPs aim to increase business performance while
reducing pollution and waste. Research on EIPs shows close
parallels with work on inter-firm networking and untraded
interdependencies where emphasis has been placed upon the
success of particular localities in developing networks of
interlinked firms which rely on trust and reciprocity in
their daily relations. Without such trust and reciprocity,
an EIP does not exist, save as a thematic collection of
environmentally-related firms. However, most EIP policy
initiatives are concerned with creating physical
infrastructure and assume that such 'relational assets' can
be created or will emerge with time. The project aims:
1. To examine critically the notion that the creation of
EIPs enables combining environmental improvement with
increased business competitiveness, 2. To investigate the
role of trust and co-operation between firms in
establishing EIPs. 3. To examine the role played by the
development of local collaboration, partnership and policy
makers in the formation of EIPs. 4. To investigate whether
EIPs can be created through public policy initiatives. 5.
To examine barriers to the implementation of EIPs and the
potential for public policy intervention to overcome
these. 6. To explore the feasibility, cost and benefits of
developing EIPs as part of economic development in the
Yorkshire & Humber region.
The research will be conducted through email and internet
surveys of EIPs in Europe and the USA, followed by case
study in-depth interviews within Europe (probable
interviews in: Turin; Emscher Park, Germany; Styria,
Austria; Rijnmond, Rotterdam; Kalundborg, Denmark) as well
as in the Yorkshire and Humber area (e.g. Symbiosis Park).
----------------------
Professor D.C.Gibbs
Department of Geography
University of Hull
Hull
HU6 7RX
Personal webpage www.hull.ac.uk/geog/html/dgibbs.html
Sustainable Cities Network www.hull.ac.uk/geog/research/html/suscity.html
Tel. 01482 465330
Mobile 0780 8260234
Fax 01482 466340
[log in to unmask]
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