Building policy capacities for tackling grand social challengesexploring the boundary-spanning potential of university research in the social sciences

Abstract

The emergence of new approaches to regional policy, including the well-known concept of smart specialisation strategies and the need to face grand societal challenges have highlighted the importance of policy capacities among public and private stakeholders. These challenges have increased the pressure on universities and their academic staff to assume more engaged roles within their respective territories. This article explores how social sciences research can contribute to regional policy capacities for tackling social challenges. Specifically, it focuses on the institutional arrangements that universities develop to facilitate engaged research in regions, or what have been labelled «university-based boundary organisations». We suggest that they are a relevant regional instrument due to their integration of knowledge bridging and knowledge coproduction functions. The paper explores how these roles contribute to regional policy capacities through analysis of the case of Orkestra-Basque Institute of Competitiveness, a university-based boundary organisation in the Basque Country.