Hi there
Apologies for any cross-posting; this might be of interest to group
members, especially the two bursaries available for attendance for
participants from new EU member states.
Paul
Seminar announcement & Bursary award invitation
The role of 'industrial knowledges' in economic development of
post-industrial regions
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 14th-15th February 2005
A Regional Studies Association Working Group
Industrial change - and particularly decline - has been a painful
process for many European regions. The industries driving these regions
fell into uncompetitiveness, and 'economic realities' forced them into a
restructuring and rationalisation process which has decimated, and in
many cases obliterated, those industries. This industrial transition
has been underpinned by neo liberal prescriptions promoted by the
European Commission, within Europe through competition regulation, and
in eastern Europe through special advisers funded by the PHARE and TACIS
programmes. In their own terms, many of these policies have been
successful, reducing production costs, subsidy levels and Government
budget deficits, whilst raising the competitiveness of what industry
remained.
Where these policies have undoubtedly failed is in providing access to
new growth opportunities, by giving those regions the wherewithal to
participate effectively in the enlarged, competitive European market.
Regional policy has followed several phases, through cutting labour
costs, then attracting inwards investment, then developing indigenous
innovation and knowledge activities. However, those regions furthest
through restructuring have found that by the time Governments choose to
emphasise indigenous growth, they have lost many local activities in
which there is knowledge to be commercialised. Where some old economies
have been successful, it is often because assets have been retained
dating back to the old industrial era, encompassing 'old' institutional
forms, social market relations, cultures, businesses and entrepreneurs.
In the first meeting of the working group, we bring together
experiences from regions in western and Central Europe undergoing
industrial restructuring, to explore how these industrial knowledges
have survived and metamorphosed into the fragments of post industrial
knowledge economies.
Papers confirmed so far include:-
* Alison Stenning (University of Newcastle)
The role of 'industrial knowledges' in economic development of
post-industrial regions
* Anna Clua (University of Durham)
What's old in the new 'city of knowledge'. Innovating Manchester
and Barcelona
* Adam Swain (University of Nottingham)
Projecting transition in the Ukrainian Donbas: knowledge
transfer & the reorganization of the coal industry
* Christine Liefooghe (Universite des Sciences et Technologies de
Lille) Services : the future of industry ? From coalmining and textile
industries to environmental services and distance selling in the
Nord-Pas-de-Calais region-France.
* David Tyler (Manchester Metropolitan University) Industrial
change in the Clothing/Textiles cluster of North West England
* Gert Jan Hospers (University of Twente, Netherlands)
Structural change in the Ruhr Area: from coal and steel to heavy
metal
* Paul Benneworth (University of Newcastle)
High technology firms in low technology fields: university spin
offs and long-term innovation sequences in the North East of England
* Robert Hassink (University of Duisburg, Germany)
De-industrialisation, path dependency and lock-ins in Germany's
old industrial areas
* Steve Musson (Birbeck College, University of London)
Corporate evolution and local economic development in textiles
and engineering
Places are still available for attendance at this event, for which there
is no charge.
We also have two fully funded bursaries which we are making available to
participants based in or doing research on old industrial regions in
Eastern Europe, covering APEX flights to Newcastle and accommodation
during the conference. This award does not require the recipient to
make a presentation.
For further information on registration or the bursaries, please contact
the organisers:
Alison Stenning & Paul Benneworth
School of Georgaphy, Politics and Sociology
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
United Kingdom
[log in to unmask]
Tel: + 44 191 222 8016
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Dr. Paul Benneworth
Senior Research Associate
Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Work: 0191 222 8015
Home: 0191 258 7437
Mobl: 07801 538 758
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