Geographies of governance for sustainable and inclusive socio-technical transformations
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Cardiff School of Planning and Geography
Abstract
A key challenge of sustainable environmental and economic transitions in both Wales (UK) and Taiwan is not just that of shifting to new socio-technical regimes, but ensuring the costs, risks and benefits are fairly distributed. The literature highlights problems of socio-spatial injustice between and within rural and urban areas produced through ongoing power imbalances in planning and environmental governance, and problems of capacity and equity regarding the potential of digitalisation to contribute to adaptive planning and inclusive social innovation. At the same we see states struggle with issues of productivity in the face of regional, technological and geo-political shifts, producing the need for deeper understandings of how entrepreneurial ecosystems and path creation are shaped by individual entrepreneurial agents, opportunity spaces, regional relations and digital platforms.
Through this collaboration between 14 established and early career academics from Cardiff University (Wales, UK) and National Taipei University (NTPU, Taiwan) we will shape and contribute to these cutting edge international academic debates, and issues of UK and Taiwanese national priority in relation to urban and regional governance, economy and planning for sustainability. The funding sought here aims to facilitate online and in-person collaboration through three distinct project phases that will: refine future research questions and agendas relating to each theme and topic; build stakeholder networks and identify case studies that will enable us to undertake pilot research and maximise the extent of our public engagement and societal impact; provide a forum to collaborate on and disseminate specific research outputs; and set the groundwork of future collaboration by securing further funding.
Our collaborations will enable shared learning from case studies in these different contexts; and methodological and theoretical cross-pollination between a diverse range of academic, policy and civil society stakeholders. We seek to build upon existing collaborations and research projects, and consolidate and foster new collaborations, research agendas and case studies, thus enhancing synergies between our institutions and research capacities. At the same time, the collaboration will additionally connect scholars with policy makers, practitioners, civil society organisations and entrepreneurs in the two countries.
This collaboration also has national and international significance due its contribution to trans-national theory building and investigation of contemporary issues relevant to both Wales and Taiwan. Specifically it aligns with NSTC Priority Areas in relation to (a) sustainable and Inclusive urban governance and infrastructure; (b) cities in digital transformation; (c) rural and peripheral urbanism, and socially-just urban resilience, spatial and social exclusion. We also engage with at least three ESRC priority areas of climate change and localised environmental impacts and justice; building greater trust in democracy and governing capacity; and productivity and fairness in economic life in relation to entrepreneurialism and digital technologies.
Through this collaboration between 14 established and early career academics from Cardiff University (Wales, UK) and National Taipei University (NTPU, Taiwan) we will shape and contribute to these cutting edge international academic debates, and issues of UK and Taiwanese national priority in relation to urban and regional governance, economy and planning for sustainability. The funding sought here aims to facilitate online and in-person collaboration through three distinct project phases that will: refine future research questions and agendas relating to each theme and topic; build stakeholder networks and identify case studies that will enable us to undertake pilot research and maximise the extent of our public engagement and societal impact; provide a forum to collaborate on and disseminate specific research outputs; and set the groundwork of future collaboration by securing further funding.
Our collaborations will enable shared learning from case studies in these different contexts; and methodological and theoretical cross-pollination between a diverse range of academic, policy and civil society stakeholders. We seek to build upon existing collaborations and research projects, and consolidate and foster new collaborations, research agendas and case studies, thus enhancing synergies between our institutions and research capacities. At the same time, the collaboration will additionally connect scholars with policy makers, practitioners, civil society organisations and entrepreneurs in the two countries.
This collaboration also has national and international significance due its contribution to trans-national theory building and investigation of contemporary issues relevant to both Wales and Taiwan. Specifically it aligns with NSTC Priority Areas in relation to (a) sustainable and Inclusive urban governance and infrastructure; (b) cities in digital transformation; (c) rural and peripheral urbanism, and socially-just urban resilience, spatial and social exclusion. We also engage with at least three ESRC priority areas of climate change and localised environmental impacts and justice; building greater trust in democracy and governing capacity; and productivity and fairness in economic life in relation to entrepreneurialism and digital technologies.
Organisations
| Description | The most significant achievements of the award have grown out of the two visits from Cardiff University (CU) staff to National Taipei University (NTPU) in Feb-March 2024; and from NTPU to CU/ University of the West of England (UWE) in July 2024. The visit to Taiwan involved 6 CU staff and 6 NTPU staff and included visits to Central Taiwan Science Park, Taichung; Hsinchu Science Park Community Group; 3 presentations at Chengchi University, Department of Land Economics; 6 presentations at the Taiwan-Wales Forum held at NTPU; and 3 keynote presentations at the Taoyuan City Blueprint launch conference. These visits and events helped to deepen understanding of the planning, regulation, management, and contestation of science parks in Taiwan; engage students in the development of these ideas; and to bring these ideas to a policy audience at the Taoyuan City conference. The visit to the UK involved 6 NTPU staff; 3 CU staff and 2 UWE staff (the original UK PI Spinney moved to a new role from CU to UWE in March 2024). This visit included meetings with managers of Bristol and Bath Science Park; London Olympic Park Tech Cluster; Founders Forum Incubator; Welsh Government Planning Directorate; and presentations to the ESRC-NSTC Networking Symposium at UWE. These events further deepened an understanding of the global dependencies between UK and Taiwan; the planning and economic logics underpinning development; regional differences in the UK (e.g South West, Wales and London); and engaged staff and students at UWE through the networking symposium. Utilising the expanded networks created through the project, Prof Oleg Golubchikov and Dr Abid Mehmood helped Dr Ying-Chun Hou from Taiwan secure a one-year postdoctoral fellowship (2024-25) funded by the Welsh Graduate School for Social Sciences hosted at Cardiff University and working on issues related to tech clusters and urban regeneration. Dr Hou is also acting as Research Assistant using funds secured from CECI Engineering to help in the development of a research proposal on new industrial urbanism with Lin (NTPU); Spinney (UWE); Mehmood (CU) and Moghayedi (UWE). In addition to these achievements, one paper and one grant application have been submitted with a further grant proposal in preparation: Golubchikov (PI, CU); Lin (NTPU); Chang (NTPU) submitted a research proposal to the EU Driving Urban Transitions call (November 2024) on Transit-oriented regeneration. This proposal has cleared the first stage evaluation and has been invited to submit a full proposal in April 2024 Wann-Ming Wey (NTPU), Justin Spinney (UWE), Mathilde Christensen (CU), submitted the paper "Investigating the utility of Deep Neural Processing of Big Data within a Time series framework to predict the future importance of sustainable transportation indicators: the case of Taipei City (Taiwan)", to Transport Metrica: B. (January 2024). Wann-Ming Wey (NTPU) and Justin Spinney (UWE) are part of an international consortium submitting a proposal (April 1st) to the Volvo Research Foundation on Urban Walkability. In addition to these major achievements are numerous smaller but important achievements which include a range of invited presentations and contributions to teaching both at NTPU and Cardiff. To what extent were the award objectives met? If you can, briefly explain why any key objectives were not met. The stated objectives related to this grant were: 1. Develop personal and shared research agendas and projects in relation to overlapping themes of national importance 2. Create links with wider academic audiences, publics and stakeholders through research development and data collection processes 3. Undertake pilot fieldwork related to these questions 4. Disseminate the initial results of these collaborations and lay the groundwork for ongoing collaboration through journal publication and funding applications. Objective 1 has been met with greater and ongoing collaboration within and beyond the named grant participants. This is evidenced in a range of invited talks and contributions to teaching including: Lin (NTPU) gave an invited talk on environmental governance and urban regeneration on risk-based agenda in Taiwan, to MSc students attending the module CPT870 'Space and Place: International Planning Practice' in March 2024 at the School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University. Chang (NTPU) gave an invited lecture on the Cardiff MSc module Urban and Regional Development in Practice. Mehmood gave an invited talk on 'Catalysing sustainable futures beyond SDGs: the importance of socio-technological innovation and education', Catalysing Sustainable Futures in Africa, University of Cape Town, South Africa (27 November 2024) Golubchikov (CU); Spinney (UWE) and Mehmood (CU) all presented keynotes at the Taoyuan International Blueprint conference; and papers at the Chengchi University, Department of Land Economics in March 2024. Munday (CU) has used material relating to the semiconductor industry from the Taiwan visit in teaching on both the BS3561 Modern Business Enterprise Year 3 course in CARBS and BST 186 Business Environment PG Course. Objective 2 to create links with a range of audiences has been met primarily through two symposiums (one at NTPU in March; one at UWE in July). These were attended by UG, PG and staff at the two institutions with approximately 25 participants at each. These have helped to gather feedback and publicise the research agenda; and recruit new interested academics for future collaboration. Beyond this, we have also established valuable links with stakeholders in Central Science Park, Hsinchu Science Park Community Group, Bristol and Bath Science Park, London Olympic Park Tech Cluster and Founders Forum. In addition to these contacts, Spinney (UWE) was invited by the Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K. to contribute to a promotional film relating to the research relationship with NTPU, and attend the National Taiwan Day reception in Westminster in October 2024. the film has been used as part of Taiwan National Day Celebrations. Objective 3 relating to pilot fieldwork and Objective 4 relating to dissemination of initial results and groundwork for ongoing collaboration has been met during the visits to Taiwan and UK respectively. Visits to science parks, tech clusters, community groups, smart housing initiatives, and government offices have helped to refine research questions that are driving a range of projects and publications outlined in the following section. How might the findings be taken forward and by whom? The award has helped participants take significant steps toward developing internationally significant research agendas around sustainable governance and regional and cultural economy, involving a range of staff from NTPU, CTS, UWE and beyond. From an initial broad framing around sustainable and inclusive socio-technical transformations, the following initiatives have emerged: The visits to both UK and Taiwanese science parks/ clusters has led to an interest in 'New Industrial Urbanism'; referring to the need within framings of chrono-urbanism, liveability and enhanced productivity to co-locate a range of industries (not just office-jobs) in urban centres. A key barrier to this process is the uneven landscape of regulation, criteria and social norms that govern decision making relating to which industries can locate where and on what basis. Spinney (UWE); Mehmood (CU); Webb (CU); Wey (NTPU); Moghayedi (UWE); alongside colleagues at University of cape Town (South Africa) are all currently involved in developing a research proposal that seeks to examine the criteria and decision making process in different national contexts; bring together key stakeholders to develop and discuss futures, criteria and tools; and create a broader research agenda and network of academics. This work is being enhanced by funds secured from Taiwanese engineering firm CECI that is paying for a research assistant to review literature and current standards, contributing to a publication and the research proposal. Munday (CU) and Huggins (CU) are applying for funding to continue the UKRI Strength in Places work in Wales (which is based on the Compound Semiconductor Cluster). Their application utilises knowledge gained from the ESRC Networking Visits. Golubchikov (CU); Lin (NTPU); Chang (NTPU) submitted a research proposal to the EU Driving Urban Transitions call (November 2024) on Transit-oriented regeneration. Velema (NTPU); Christensen (CU); Spinney (UWE) are developing a strand of research and project proposal examining global labour mobilities of science park workers utilising Linkedin data. This work is driven by a questions of talent governance emerging from the ESRC Networking visits relationg to how we can understand the current challenges of managing human resources, including attracting and retaining talent, and propose sustainable talent governance strategies for the future? Munday (CU) and Huggins (CU) are currently preparing a paper titled 'Agency, Culture and the Evolution of the Taiwanese Semiconductor Industry'. It is based on the presentation made at the March symposium in Taipei, and interviews conducted as part of the visit. Munday (CU) has used new knowledge from contacts made during the visit in the Annual Report series for UKRI Strength in Places fund examining global conditions in the semiconductor industry. Mehmood (CU) is using academic links with the team at NTPU (Velema, Lin) to develop a bilateral exchange of students and scholars between the School of Geography and Planning Cardiff University and the Graduate Institute of Urban Planning at NTPU. Chang (NTPU) is drafting a working paper on the institutional evolution of Taiwan's science parks with plans to present it at an international conference in 2025. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes of this award will be taken forward primarily by the original participants; but also a range of new collaborators at UWE, Cardiff, NTPU and other institutions who are interested in the research agendas that are developing. |
| Sectors | Energy Environment Government Democracy and Justice Transport |
| Description | Findings from grant activities have been used to inform a report made for CECI Engineering in Taiwan regarding the future of Science Parks. The report sought to raise and answer a number of questions that emerged from visits to Science Parks and Tech Clusters in UK and Taiwan: 1. Conflicts and Shortcomings of Public Facilities within the Science Parks 2. Alignment of Science Parks with Global Trends in Net-Zero Carbon and Circular Economy 3. Limited and Shortage of Technological Talent and Related Human Resources in Science Parks 4. Governance and Planning Integration 5. New Industrial Urbanism in Practice |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Construction,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Report to CECI Engineering Taiwan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Academics from Cardiff, UWE and NTPU attended a series of Ideation Workshops with CECI engineering staff, produced 3 briefings and a final report on the Future of Science Parks. This resulted in Golubchikov (CU); Mehmood (CU); and Spinney (UWE) being invited to present keynote talks at the Taoyuan City Government Urban Blueprint launch. the talks were well received, sparking debate and significant local news coverage of the event. The report was well received within CECI and forms part of their strategic thinking on future science park development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |