4. Utilising Endogenous Potentials via Regional Policy-Led Development Initiatives in (Post-) Industrial Regions of Central Europe

Since the Barca Report to the European Union in 2009, endogenous potentials have been firmly on the European Union agenda, streamlined by various policies related to territorial development. At the end of the current EU programming period (2012–2020), this chapter discusses how such place-based potentials are conceptualised and used, particularly in the local and regional context. In doing so, this chapter focuses on the situation of places characterised as non-agglomeration, (post-) industrial regions in Central Europe, often situated in the spatial peripheries and also outside the main academic focus. The analysis highlights governance issues and the valorisation of endogenous development potentials by different policy levels, discussing agenda setting and implementation. The cases highlight challenges in the current development of such regions, give examples for the identification and utilisation of endogenous potentials, and discuss lessons learned from this locally led development approach. Additionally, different governance modes are discussed and used to illustrate different agenda setting in regard to endogenous potentials. As a result, the authors argue that utilising potentials is streamlined top-down via various policy frameworks, which are in turn mediated by local and regional governance settings, adapting and translating these programmes into practical, regional and local actions, and thereby creating important learning effects for the regions.