The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe.

The Handbook highlights Finland as a leader in managed industrial transitions, innovation-led development, and social policies. Case study highlights include:

𝘌𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟦)

𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗮 (𝗛𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆): dual strategy that Influenced the “supply side” by reskilling tech talent and the “demand side” by funding startup incubators like Aalto University’s Startup Sauna.

𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟣𝟢)

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝘂𝗽 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁: provides unemployed individuals with a living allowance during the vulnerable early months of launching a new business venture, highlighting how social welfare policies can be repurposed into active labour market investments that promote entrepreneurship.

𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟣𝟤)

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: aims to transform Finland into a leader in sustainable bioeconomy by leveraging its extensive forests to create new high-value products and services. Illustrates how innovation-led strategies can drive rural development and transition traditional sectors towards the green economy.

𝗡𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲: when Nokia’s mobile business declined, this corporate-led initiative, supported by the state, helped former employees start hundreds of new high-tech companies. Proactive crisis response and the transformation of potentially catastrophic industrial decline into a catalyst for renewed entrepreneurship.

𝘗𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟣𝟧)

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 (𝗛𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶): provides permanent housing to homeless individuals immediately without preconditions, accompanied by intensive person-centred support – an approach that virtually eradicating rough sleeping.

𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯, 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟣𝟩)

𝗘𝗖𝗢𝟯, 𝗡𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗮: 150-hectare industrial bio- and circular economy business park where 28 organisations collaborate on sharing by-products and resource sharing. A practical example of a circular economy industrial park.

The book (available from Amazon via www.lredhandbook.com) includes case studies and observations from across the globe.

I recently discussed the Handbook with Dane Carlson at the EconDevShow here – https://lnkd.in/ezJPWaaf

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