Examining intra-regional inequalities and developing pathways towards resilient and inclusive revitalisation: Theory and Practice

The plan of activities for this project is divided into five Work Packages (WPs), and the project team on both countries will meet virtually monthly to evaluate progress and further objectives. This initiative will be undertaken over 12 months, from 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022. Work Package 0: Initial preparation and research design

Work Package 1: A scoping comparative study

(1) Reviewing the literature of intra-regional inequality and collectively developing a conceptual framework embracing key elements (economic, social, environment/infrastructure and governance) for a comparative scoping study. Each component will be led by one scholar in this joint team. (2) Taxonomy of 'left-behind' places: definition & measurements (3) Selecting and conducting representative cases through secondary datasets and policy documents from both the UK and Taiwan.

Work Package 2: A special issue 'call for abstracts' on the topic of 'left-behind places and planning for resilient and inclusive regions' will be circulated via JISCmail research networks and other international professional channels to invite scholars worldwide who are working on similar issues (targeted scholars will include Professor John Tomaney (UCL), Professor Cecilia Wong (University of Manchester), Professor Xavier Desjardins (University of Paris Sorbonne)). Selected papers will be presented in the international virtual online conference organised in WP4.

This special issue will be proposed to a respected SSCI journal, such as Regional Studies, Town Planning Review, and International Journal of Urban and Regional Planning.

Work Package 3: One-week overseas research network programmes (one in each country, the UK &Taiwan) will include two research symposiums and field trips, organised to explore key themes and lessons identified from the scoping study area. (1) One-day symposiums/workshops will comprise talks and group discussions. Research teams in each country will invite several speakers (scholars working on similar topics in respective countries) and participants (from local and central government, academics, practitioners, business leaders, community groups, etc.).

Early career researchers in both countries will be encouraged to participate in the workshops. Workshops will be organised in offline formats, while some keynote and research talk sessions could be available in both online and offline formats. (2) Fieldtrips for representative cases included in the scoping study will be organised to enable both research teams to understand the cases better and meet the stakeholders involved in the respective pilot case study. Interpreters will be arranged in Taiwan.

Work Package 4: An international virtual online conference (jointly hosted by core applicants from both countries) will be organised and the program will share key findings from the UK-Taiwan scoping study and selected papers from WP2. This virtual conference will be free and circulated to interested participants, including policy makers at both central and local levels, practitioners, academics, private sectors or participants from civil society in each country and beyond.

Work Package 5: A final report will be drafted by both research teams to document key WPs and findings and to evaluate lessons learnt from current practice of addressing left-behind places and intra-regional inequalities with a comparative perspective. It will explore possible policy reforms for co-producing inclusive intra-regional prosperity in the face of future challenges and by preparing an agenda for further research collaboration.