Session organisers

Alexandra Tsvetkova, OECD, alexandra.tsvetkova@oecd.org
Alexander Lembcke, OECD, alexander.lembcke@oecd.org

Description

Productivity is the main determinant of living standards. The more productive economies have a greater ability to support and enhance well-being of their citizens via higher incomes, better infrastructure, more services and other means. Innovation is the main driver of productivity growth, while knowledge diffusion is crucial for balanced growth with no places left behind.

The data show that productivity growth in the OECD area has slowed in the last decade and the subnational productivity disparities are on the rise. How these trends can be reversed? What role innovation, universities and other knowledge-generators can play? Is there a scope for successful place-based policies that leverage innovation potential of places for (productivity) growth? What role innovation can play in ensuring sustainable development and prosperity in regions with the traditional resource-based economies?

The session Innovation diffusion, industrial landscape and spatial productivity addresses these and related questions mostly from a viewpoint of policy practitioners and international organisations involved in policy advice. It will outline the recent (subnational) productivity trends and the role of innovation and innovation diffusion in shaping the observed patterns. The importance of the industrial composition, the spatial dimension of both productivity and innovation across industries and the ways subnational policies can benefit from embracing such a dimension will also be discussed.

Session format

This session is organised by OECD and will bring together representatives from international organisations and policy-makers. The speakers will present their perspectives and will engage in round table/panel discussion including time for the Q&A with the audience. The participating policy-makers and practitioners will be asked to share their practical experience and challenges in designing and implementing effective innovation-related policies. A partially audience-driven format can also be accommodated.

Read more about the OECD Spatial Productivity Lab at GEOINNO2020