“Smart Region” governance for innovation: Cooperative approaches in Hamburg-Southern Elbe Region

In the framework of implementing the Regional Research and Innovation Smart Specialization Strategy for Lower Saxony, the Hamburg-Southern Elbe Region has employed a new governance process for boosting economic performance and innovation called “Smart Region”. The analysis demonstrates both the success factors and the main challenges behind the process, which are discussed in the wider context of international literature on regional innovation and territorial cooperation. The chapter is based on a thorough literature review, which sought to explore the role of multi-level cooperation in the definition of innovation priorities and the establishment of innovation processes. The body of literature on regional innovation processes defines the thematic networks, clusters and platforms as important cooperation formats for knowledge transfer and innovation promotion. In view of the range and variety of involved regional stakeholders, the Smart Region can be described as an innovation process with a focus on implementation.