Cities and regions in transformation: subnational frontiers of transformative innovation policy

Transformative innovation policy (TIP) reframes innovation agendas around societal challenges such as sustainability and inclusion. Its rapid uptake in policy discourse contrasts with limited evidence on how it is enacted in regions and cities. This special issue examines how local and regional actors interpret and implement TIP in practice. The contributions reveal uneven public-sector capacities, persistent tensions in mission-oriented approaches and the strong influence of place-based conditions on policy outcomes. They also highlight challenges of legitimacy and coordination across governance levels, where direction-setting meets fragmented institutions and competing priorities.