Soft spatial imaginaries as a regional dynamic capability

Soft spatial imaginaries offer a novel conceptualisation of a regional dynamic capability to adapt to and shape collective action on regional development challenges towards desirable futures. This capability encompasses six dimensions embedded within a time- and region-specific opportunity space: sensing change, seizing opportunities, transforming organisations, boundary organisations, place leadership, and continuous activity. By combining these concepts for the first time we advance the translation of dynamic capabilities into regional studies and progress the growing interest in regional future-making practices for turbulent times. Our conceptualisation provides broadened scope to understand collective agency in converging multiple actors on an agreed spatial imaginary.