Quo vadis? 20 Years of supporting regional economic development in the Western Cape Province of South Africa: Towards a framework for embedding innovation

The paper builds on a regional economic development framework that was developed as an advisory guide to regional governments internationally; as part of a UN-Habitat funded project. The original framework was based on ten case studies that served as illustrations of the implementation of the introduced economic development mechanisms. This paper provides an in-depth investigation into the practical aspects of the mechanisms through a case study at the provincial government level in South Africa; at the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (WCDED&T). We consider the evolution of the system over a 20-year period and develop an argument that the economic development support mechanisms in the Province have now been developed up to a satisfactory point so that greater focus for an innovation function and focus may be put into play. The case places the originally suggested mechanisms for regional development within a wider framework for economic development mechanisms that are available to regional governments; by mapping and synthesising mechanisms through which innovation can be stimulated at the regional level. The paper outlines the key considerations and trade-offs in the design of such mechanisms.