New impulses for sustainable and resilient development processes in structurally weak regions of change (IMPER)
The IMPER scientific accompanying project for the ‘WIR! - Change through Innovation in the Region’ funding initiative aimed to identify new impetus for sustainable and resilient development processes in structurally weak regions undergoing change and, on this basis, to draw conclusions for structural and innovation policy measures. The aim was to contribute to expanding the knowledge base in the field of innovation-based structural change and regional transformation processes, particularly with regard to dynamic, sustainable and resilient development paths and the reduction of regional disparities. The focus was on how regions with funded WIR! alliances deal with internal and external challenges and what contributions the WIR! alliances can make to regional structural change and possibly to regional transformation processes.
Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, theoretical and conceptual approaches to transformation and structural change were empirically tested and, on this basis, findings on the scope for action in regional structural change for regional actors, policymakers and academia were developed, presented and published.