Knowledge Regions and Innovation in an era of Globalisation: Challenges and Opportunities for Europe and Asia
	Miguel Santos Neves ( Portugal ) Head, Asia Programme Institute of International and Strategic Studies
SEOUL I MACAU I HONG KONG I BEIJING I TOKYO
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Abstract

Intertwined with globalisation, societies and the international system in general are experiencing major structural changes that are being determined by two distinct processes - the simultaneous emergence of the " knowledge society" and the " network society ." The key factors of the "knowledge society" are knowledge and innovation, and the most valuable aspects are human and social capital and the investment in intangible assets. The "network society" is characterised by new forms of social interaction and new sources of identity and loyalty.

The nature of the process of knowledge creation and diffusion leads to the reemergence of local and regional economies as highly valuable areas for economic, political and social interaction. This process of knowledge creation and diffusion requires geographic proximity, direct face-to-face interaction, thus becoming a geographic phenomenon. The proximity enables national/regional actors to develop trust, settle differences, form networks, develop partnerships and engage in mutual learning and diffusion of tacit knowledge.

The European Union (EU) is involved in a fundamental debate concerning the Lisbon Strategy (2000 and 2005) - a grand design to enhance Europe's economic competitiveness aimed at preparing Europe to be a "knowledge-based society." Asian societies, with different degrees of intensity, have also been engaged in defining their strategies to advance towards "knowledge societies" which present both points of convergence and divergence with the EU vision.

A crucial structural feature that increasingly marks the international system is the emergence of regionalism in its two distinct dimensions - the formation of macro-regions on one hand, and the increasing relevance of micro-regions on the other hand. By extension, the emergence of "knowledge regions" is an important phenomenon, both in Europe and in Asia , raising new challenges in terms of governance and the remaking of social relations though the intensification of transborder and transnational networks. Some of the "knowledge regions" that will be analysed in this lecture are in Europe (Catalunha, Baden-Wurttemberg, Uusimaa and Zuid-Nerdeland), and in Asia; Singapore , China (the Bohai region, the South China triangle), and Japan ( Osaka and Kyoto ). Some of these knowledge regions have been very active in the international system through their sub-national governments, promoting their interests and developing an autonomous "paradiplomacy" which has become one of the pillars of their competitiveness in the global economy.

The "knowledge society" paradigm is a major challenge that both European and Asian societies are facing, and the "knowledge regions" - even what could be considered as micro-regions - play a critical role in this process. Paradoxically however, interactions, ties and relations between European "knowledge regions" and Asian "knowledge regions" have not received the attention they deserve by policymakers, and this remains by and large a missing dimension in the analysis of EU-Asia bilateral relations. This lecture will stimulate debate on this strategic dimension of EU-Asian relations. In doing so, it will introduce a more disaggregated level of analysis and a wider and more integrated approach that goes beyond the traditional ways of viewing inter-regional relations.

How have some of the different regions promoted their integration in the global economy and adapted to "glocalisation" dynamics? What are the implications of an increasing international presence of these knowledge micro-regions? What are the implications for the future development of bilateral EU-Asian relations?

LECTURE SCHEDULE