Overview

Billions of dollars, Euros, yen, and yuan in public funds are spent annually to promote innovation in metropolitan regions, attempting to transform the economy by attracting technology-based companies and supporting small startups to secure high-paying jobs. The impacts of those investments are typically assessed in terms of economic growth, venture capital, and jobs. Regional innovation is assessed with financial measures that do not account for the distribution of wealth, nor do they evaluate if innovation addresses broader sustainability concerns. This book draws on evidence from 144 interviews with civic leaders in three urban regions—Atlanta, Phoenix, and the Twin Cities—to illuminate three commonly accepted but flawed myths about innovation that misdirect policymakers and civic leaders and perpetuate the idea that innovation is solely about economic growth. This book offers evidence of the social networks, labor divisions, and conditions enabling innovation to dispel those three myths and propose more nuanced and realistic ways of thinking about regional innovation. This book is not an argument against innovation. Rather, it critically reflects upon investments in innovation and showcases laudable efforts to create a livable and sustainable city. The book offers a novel method to assess the processes and outcomes of innovation in a manner that can complement economic approaches. The author lays bare the human values that motivate city staff, corporate officers, and academic partners and highlights the efforts of organizations that often remain underappreciated. The evidence presented in this book puts forward a means to assess if (and how) innovation contributes to an equitable and sustainable future or if it perpetuates injustices and economic stratification. The Myths of Regional Innovation will appeal to scholars across broad fields, including innovation studies, technology management, entrepreneurship, economic development, and public policy.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rider W. Foley
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.780kg
ISBN:  

9781032991245

ISBN 10:   1032991240
Pages:   318
Publication Date:   08 August 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Three Myths of Regional Innovation 3. Sustainability and Responsible Innovation 4. Research Design 5. The Man, the Myth, the Entrepreneur 6. Networks of Power and Powerful Networks 7. Excluded from Regional Innovation 8. Atlanta Burgeoning Spirit in the Southeast 9. Twin Cities: Innovation at the headwaters of the Mississippi 10. Phoenix: Innovation Arising in the Desert Southwest 11. Mental Models, Industrial Sectors and Regulation 12. Assessing Regional Innovation with Sustainability and Responsible Innovation 13. Barriers to Regional Innovation 14. Assets to Build Regional Innovation Strategies 15. Strategic Planning, Addressing Equity, and Envisioning a Just Future Appendix A. Data tables for network diagrams in Chapter 6 Appendix B. Data tables by Sector and Region that supports Chapter 11. Appendix C. Codebook for Thematic Coding

Reviews

""We don’t need more innovation—we need better innovation. In The Myths of Regional Innovation, Rider Foley cuts through the hype to reveal how we can align technology, policy, and investment with real human needs—and rethink what ‘good growth’ truly means. An insightful and essential read for anyone who believes progress should serve everyone—not just the few."" Guru Madhavan, Norman R. Augustine Senior Scholar and Senior Director of Programs, National Academy of Engineering; author of Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World and Applied Minds: How Engineers Think ""There are many mysteries about innovation— who does it, how it happens, what it means for society. In this book, Rider Foley busts three big myths that continue to plague our narratives about innovation: that innovation is done by singular, heroic entrepreneurs, that any place can be innovative if they follow the right recipe, and that innovations of any kind are always good for everybody. Through richly detailed case studies, Rider moves beyond studies of innovation that focus on Silicon Valley and digital software by taking us into the large-scale dynamics of regional hubs for nano-scale technologies."" Jathan Sadowski, author of The Mechanic and the Luddite and Too Smart and Senior Lecturer in the Emerging Technologies Research Lab at Monash University ""This book challenges the conventional wisdom, revealing how unchecked innovation can deepen inequality and create unintended consequences. Instead of viewing innovation as a one-size-fits-all fix, we must understand it as part of a complex, evolving system that requires thoughtful integration of social and technical solutions. Designed for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and advocates, this book provides a fresh perspective on regional innovation backed up by case studies of US cities. It calls on civic leaders to take an active role in shaping innovation—not just for economic gain but for long-term sustainability, justice, and equity. If you want to be part of the future where innovation drives real solutions, this book is your essential guide."" Rene von Schomberg, Senior Research Fellow, RWTH, Aachen University

Author Information

Rider W. Foley is Associate Professor at the University of Virginia in the Department of Engineering and Society.

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