Geographies of governance for sustainable and inclusive socio-technical transformations

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A key challenge of sustainable environmental and economic transitions in both Wales (UK) and Taiwan is not just that of shifting to new socio-technical regimes, but ensuring the costs, risks and benefits are fairly distributed. The literature highlights problems of socio-spatial injustice between and within rural and urban areas produced through ongoing power imbalances in planning and environmental governance, and problems of capacity and equity regarding the potential of digitalisation to contribute to adaptive planning and inclusive social innovation. At the same we see states struggle with issues of productivity in the face of regional, technological and geo-political shifts, producing the need for deeper understandings of how entrepreneurial ecosystems and path creation are shaped by individual entrepreneurial agents, opportunity spaces, regional relations and digital platforms. Through this collaboration between 14 established and early career academics from Cardiff University (Wales, UK) and National Taipei University (NTPU, Taiwan) we will shape and contribute to these cutting edge international academic debates, and issues of UK and Taiwanese national priority in relation to urban and regional governance, economy and planning for sustainability. The funding sought here aims to facilitate online and in-person collaboration through three distinct project phases that will: refine future research questions and agendas relating to each theme and topic; build stakeholder networks and identify case studies that will enable us to undertake pilot research and maximise the extent of our public engagement and societal impact; provide a forum to collaborate on and disseminate specific research outputs; and set the groundwork of future collaboration by securing further funding. Our collaborations will enable shared learning from case studies in these different contexts; and methodological and theoretical cross-pollination between a diverse range of academic, policy and civil society stakeholders. We seek to build upon existing collaborations and research projects, and consolidate and foster new collaborations, research agendas and case studies, thus enhancing synergies between our institutions and research capacities. At the same time, the collaboration will additionally connect scholars with policy makers, practitioners, civil society organisations and entrepreneurs in the two countries. This collaboration also has national and international significance due its contribution to trans-national theory building and investigation of contemporary issues relevant to both Wales and Taiwan. Specifically it aligns with NSTC Priority Areas in relation to (a) sustainable and Inclusive urban governance and infrastructure; (b) cities in digital transformation; (c) rural and peripheral urbanism, and socially-just urban resilience, spatial and social exclusion. We also engage with at least three ESRC priority areas of climate change and localised environmental impacts and justice; building greater trust in democracy and governing capacity; and productivity and fairness in economic life in relation to entrepreneurialism and digital technologies.