Post by European Urban and Regional Studies

📢 New in European Urban and Regional Studies 📢 “Digital Innovation Hubs as Territorial Intermediaries: Aligning European Digital Strategy with Local Needs" by Dorota Czyżewska-Misztal (Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland), Sébastien BOURDIN (IESEG School of Management, Lille, France), Fabien Nadou (IESEG School of Management, Lille, France), and Piotr Idczak (Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland). How do Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) bridge the gap between European digital ambitions and the realities of regional innovation ecosystems? Drawing on 43 in-depth interviews with DIH and EDIH representatives, European Commission stakeholders and network coordinators, this article explores the evolving role of DIHs as territorial intermediaries supporting digital transformation across Europe. Key insights: 🔍 DIH roles are territorially shaped. While hubs often perform multiple functions, their dominant role reflects regional contexts. Western European DIHs are more likely to act as facilitators, benefiting from stronger institutional ecosystems and higher SME absorptive capacity, whereas Central and Eastern European DIHs more often serve as promoters, focusing on awareness-building and supporting less digitally mature business environments. 🔍 Successful intermediation depends on strong vertical governance. The most effective DIHs align mandates, instruments and timelines across European, national and regional levels through shared objectives, stable coordination mechanisms and cross-scale review processes. In doing so, they translate EU digital priorities into locally relevant actions and implementation pathways. 🔍 The research identifies four major sources of divergence between EU ambitions and regional delivery: insufficient institutional capacity, low awareness among firms and policymakers, unequal access to resources and skills, and governance misalignment between policy instruments and territorial needs. Addressing these challenges is essential for a more inclusive and effective digital transition across Europe. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eKNseZ53 #DigitalInnovation #DigitalTransformation #InnovationPolicy #RegionalStudies #DigitalEurope#EURS