Understanding Regional Innovation Cultures

What it is about

You engage with regional innovation cultures from a qualitative social-science perspective. In the end you will be able to explain how regions understand and shape innovation differently, analyze the cultural and political prerequisites of innovation policy, and derive well-founded, context-sensitive conclusions for policy and practice.

What you will be able to do

• Identify and discuss key concepts from the social sciences (especially STS)
• systematize, compare and generalize complex empirical material
• interpret technological innovation as a social and sociomaterial co-product
• develop and present conceptually well-founded, region-specific arguments
• formulate innovation policy recommendations considering normative and epistemic foundations
• critically assess the transferability of seemingly universal innovation models

What the module consists of

• Seminar/Reading SeminarIntroduction to concepts and discussion of the literature; central form of teaching and learning
• Group and individual workInteractive work on cases and development of reflective skills
• PresentationsPresentation and discussion of one's own questions and results

Teaching method

• Self-study of the literatureConveying conceptual lenses and analytical skills
• Interactive, discursive in-person sessionsDeepening, comparison of approaches and development of reflective competence
• Group and individual work phasesFostering creative and collaborative analysis