Regional institutions and knowledge - tracking new forms of regional development policy

This paper is concerned to explore the role of concepts in regional development. It attempts to apply some of the lessons of recent work in organisational theory and science and technology studies to the field of regional development studies. Specifically, we seek to outline a social constructivist perspective on knowledge in regional development studies. One issue which this perspective raises is how convergence of organisational forms and procedures in the area of regional development has been coupled with an increasing focus on regional uniqueness. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.