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Agile project management for regional innovation projects

Since 1990, the European Commission has funded in the STRIDE (Science and Technology for Regional Innovation in Europe) and the subsequent RTP (Regional Technology Plan) and RIS (Regional Innovation Strategies) programs a wide range of learning networks at regional level. RIS projects were obliged to involve multiple stakeholder groups in project activities. This poses certain challenges to project management because the projects would have to stay flexible for coping with uncertainty and unforeseen dynamics of a complex environment.

The recent paper by Patricia Wolf and Chrisoph Hanisch in the Organizational Project Management Journal presents a qualitative interview study with 28 RIS project managers that aimed at understanding whether or not this is true in the context of regional innovation and what the specifics of managing regional innovation projects are. The study investigated the interrelation between the agility of the management approach and the achievements of RIS projects. Findings raise serious issues concerning methodological approaches for the management of regional innovation projects and question whether the recent public funding mechanisms can lead to sustainable project results.