TY - JOUR T1 - All Australian Regions Are Not Born Equal: Understanding the Regional Innovation Management Sandpit JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2016 A1 - Anton Kriz A1 - Courtney Molloy A1 - Alexandra Kriz A1 - Sabrina Sonntag KW - action research KW - constructed advantage KW - phronesis KW - pivot KW - quadruple helix KW - regional innovation management sandpit KW - RIS3 KW - smart specialization KW - strategic management KW - triple helix AB - In this article, we highlight and challenge an overly simplistic assessment of regions and regional innovation systems in Australia. Treating each region and place as equal and prescribing blanket policy is anathema to the reality. Having argued that places are not equivalent, we then move on to highlight that commonalities at a deeper institutional level are possible. We draw on fieldwork and ongoing action research from the Australian regions of Hunter and Central Coast (New South Wales) and Northern Tasmania. Results of the theory and case work have been instrumental in the development of 11 structural attributes of a regional innovation management (RIM) sandpit framework. The framework provides attributes but also important process insights related to regional programs, enterprise development, and project innovations. Although developing from the Australian context, we expect that the RIM Sandpit and its place-based insights can be generalized to other regions around the world. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 6 UR - http://timreview.ca/article/993 IS - 6 U1 - University of Newcastle Anton Kriz is Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where he is a specialist in innovation management and strategy. He has an extensive background in business, industry, government, and academia. He has been a CEO, a management consultant, and while working in Government, has secured international joint ventures as well as conducted major research and development projects in Australia and overseas. Anton has had over 20 years research experience in Asia working with key markets such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea. Because of his understanding of doing business in China, Anton has also worked on projects such as Tourism Australia’s 2020 China Strategy. He is known for his ability to boundary span between government, university, and industry. Anton's other expertise is in enterprise-specific innovation management in areas such as mining services, manufacturing, agribusiness, and sport. U2 - University of Newcastle Courtney McGregor is a PhD Candidate at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where she is investigating individual innovative champion behaviour in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Courtney worked for IBM’s Global Business Services where she recruited new talent for Application Innovation Services and Application Management Services. This role provided a sound basis for her move into Workforce Management, which involved managing the allocation of resources across several business units to support consulting projects. U3 - University of Sydney Alexandra Kriz completed a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) at the University of Sydney, Australia, where she also recently completed her PhD in the early growth of firms related to innovation in spin-outs. She has been a visiting researcher at the Turku School of Economics (University of Turku, Finland) and the Adam Smith Business School (University of Glasgow, Scotland). Alexandra's Honours thesis explored ambidexterity and the ability to undertake both radical and incremental innovation. U4 - University of Newcastle Sabrina Sonntag is a PhD Candidate at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where she is investigating the potential for building Mittelstand and hidden champion capabilities in the Australian manufacturing sector. Sabrina has studied in England where she completed her Honours degree. She has been involved in Federal Government projects including looking at improving the performance of regional SMEs and networks through improved government engagement. ER -