%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2015 %T Orchestrators of Innovation-Driven Regional Development: Experiences from the INNOFOKUS Project and Change2020 Programme %A Mervi Rajahonka %A Toni Pienonen %A Riikka Kuusisto %A Jari Handelberg %K agile project development %K experimentation-driven development %K high-impact projects %K orchestrator %K regional development %K regional innovation ecosystem %K smart specialisation %K smart specialization %X The article takes a practical view of regional innovation ecosystems and presents ways to advance more efficient uses of public funding instruments by regional developers. Documenting the views of Finnish regional developers into two workbooks and a toolbox, the results of the INNOFOKUS project and its Change2020 development programme identified that promoting a high-impact project culture and smart specialization in Finland requires a continuous learning and participation process. Key individuals who can make this happen are innovation orchestrators who facilitate activities and compose the big picture. This article aims to bring forth an overview of the building blocks of an enriching and energizing environment and high-impact projects, and it presents an overview of how to enable the work of innovation orchestrators, who play a critical role in facilitating innovation ecosystems. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 5 %P 52-62 %8 10/2015 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/937 %N 10 %1 Aalto University Mervi Rajahonka (D.Sc. (Econ)) works in the Aalto University School of Business Small Business Center (SBC) in Helsinki, Finland, as a project specialist and a researcher working with various research themes such as innovation, impact evaluation, and business and service models in areas such as creative industries, entrepreneurship, and logistics services. Mervi acted as a researcher in the INNOFOKUS project. %2 Business Arena Oy Toni Pienonen is a Project Designer at the Business Arena Oy in Jyväskylä, Finland, where he works on themes related to university–business cooperation, entrepreneurship, and participatory regional development. Toni acted as a facilitator in the INNOFOKUS Change2020 programme and is a co-author of the two programme workbooks. %3 Aalto University Riikka Kuusisto works in the Aalto University School of Business Small Business Center (SBC) in Helsinki, Finland, and he was project manager of the INNOFOKUS project. She has nearly ten years of experience and expertise in innovation and knowledge management systems development. Riikka is also a specialist in e-learning, online collaboration, and online working models. %4 Aalto University Jari Handelberg (D.Sc. (Econ)) is Research Director at the Aalto University School of Business Small Business Center (SBC) in Helsinki, Finland. He has long-term experience in managing EU-funded projects. His research interests focus on entrepreneurship and regional development. Jari was a member of the INNOFOKUS project steering group and was an active participant in the Change2020 programme. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/937