This paper discuss how regional economic renewal can be achieved within a region that is highly dependent on a traditional low value added industry with relatively low technology level and the competitiveness of which has declined, over a short period of time, to a level where economic viability is questionable. The approach is built around government intervention to reduce the information asymmetry between local players and global state-of-the-art whilst simultaneously instigating a culture shift enabling cluster development for the implementation of identified transformation pathways.
The project involved the establishment of a policy framework with a balanced supply side tool, information provision and demand side tool portfolio. This was then followed by a mapping of the local value network and its participating actors to identify their present status as compared to world best practice. Following on from this, there was construction of alternative strategic technology roadmaps which differed on the raw material lenses used, time lines, competence levels and investments. In parallel with this there was communication and engagement processes to enable a self-organised cultural shift towards a situation conducive to initiating industry led clusters. The early successes are identified as well as indicators for the desired trajectory being followed.