Civil Engineering Reference
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global challenges to regional development. Self-organizing structures have the
ability to involve a more diverse range of regional actors in the process of regional
development. Institutions of higher education and research institutes have great
potentials to participate in these activities. On the one hand, they offer human
resources that create social capital for the region. On the other hand, they are
important hubs for regional networks, especially to connect regional enterprises
with the scientific community. With the help of politics and administration, these
positive impacts can be further strengthened.
2.4 Cooperation of Actors
From the preceding sections it should be clear that networks of relevant actors
account for the competitiveness of regions. Therefore, it is necessary to take a
closer look at the actors who have to interact Fig.
1
.
Regarding economic success, companies are the main drivers. The ability to
produce products people asks for and which are competitive in a national or
international environment is vital to the well-being of a region. To this end they
rely on a qualified work force that has to be trained in institutions of education,
universities, and research institutes. A broad range of tasks has to be performed:
these institutions altogether should be able to cope equally with a huge diversity of
talents and at the same time produce highly qualified research-oriented experts. In
particular, modern high technology companies require graduates from universities
and benefit from close contact with research institutes.
Observations and studies show that regions with high-level universities and
research institutes enjoy an advantage, at least as far as modern technological
products are concerned. Both sides, institutions of education and research on the
one hand and companies on the other hand, are asked for new forms of interaction
traditionally not established in most cases.
Fig. 1 Actors for regional
development
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