High-tech development for “left behind” places: lessons-learnt from the Ruhr cybersecurity ecosystem
研究了德国鲁尔老工业区如何通过资助变革推动者，发展出网络安全高科技生态系统，为落后地区提供结合替代发展战略与高科技支持的新思路。
Abstract Unlike development strategies for prosperous regions and their prioritisation of high-tech sectors, alternative strategies for left behind places are suggested that shift to foundational economies, community-based social innovation and well-being. While we support this emphasis, we see a tendency to neglect the role of change agents engaged with research and teaching in high-tech domains for initiating new regional growth paths. This study shows how initial funding has promoted change agents and the emergence of today’s cybersecurity ecosystem in the old industrial region of the Ruhr. The ecosystem generates fast-growing high-tech start-ups and contributes to positive regional identification. Our paper suggests combining alternative development strategies and the support of change agency from high-tech domains to develop left behind places.