@techreport{ZeissigBinderBembnistaetal.2023, author = {Zeißig, Hanna and Binder, Julia and Bembnista, Kamil and Mettenberger, Tobias and Ulrich, Peter and Witting, Antje and Zscherneck, Julia}, title = {Digitale Pioniere in der l{\"a}ndlichen Regionalentwicklung : Handlungsempfehlungen f{\"u}r die regionale Governance}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-6363}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-63636}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Das BULE+/BMEL-Forschungsprojekt DigPion analysiert die Netzwerke und Kooperationsstrategien digitaler Vordenkerinnen und Vordenker im l{\"a}ndlichen Raum. Dazu wurden digitale Pionierinnen und Pioniere mit IKT-Kenntnissen in den Fallregionen Mecklenburg-Vorpommern und Baden-W{\"u}rttemberg identifiziert, die soziale Innovationen und regionale Entwicklung in l{\"a}ndlichen Regionen vorantreiben. Die Brosch{\"u}re umfasst Handlungsempfehlungen f{\"u}r die regionale Governance, um eine nachhaltige r{\"a}umliche Entwicklung in l{\"a}ndlichen Regionen zu f{\"o}rdern.}, subject = {Digitalisierung; Regionalentwicklung; Pioniere; Soziale Innovation; Regionalentwicklung; L{\"a}ndlicher Raum; Governance; Sozialinnovation; Digitalisierung; Digitalisation; Governance; Pioneers; Regional development; Social innovation}, language = {de} } @article{JuliaJuliaTobias2025, author = {Julia, Zscherneck and Julia, Binder and Tobias, Mettenberger}, title = {Rural network assemblages : disentangling egocentric networks of digital pioneers in peripheral German regions}, series = {Regional studies, regional science}, volume = {12}, journal = {Regional studies, regional science}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge}, address = {London}, issn = {2168-1376}, doi = {10.1080/21681376.2025.2594312}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72787}, pages = {996 -- 1012}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Digital solutions are seen as promising ways of addressing current challenges in rural regions. Individual or group key actors accessing resources foster these developments through networks. In light of regional clustering and agglomeration effects on the one hand and increased virtual mobility on the other hand, assumptions about the spatiality of such networks are highly controversial. Our paper takes this as a point of departure, asking how spatiality is constructed in the networks of so-called 'digital pioneers' (DPs). The sampling process took place in two German rural regions with different preconditions for digital technology adoption, where we conducted egocentric network analysis and qualitative interviews. Employing the assemblage perspective, we analysed networks of 30 individuals in terms of the analytical categories of territoriality, stability and connectivity. Our findings distinguish between three important roles of network contacts: (1) multipliers in social networking, (2) users of the DP's products and services, as well as (3) close family members that are important in professional contexts. Although DPs are often deeply embedded in and feel attached to their region, networks vary significantly in their territorial radius, also including highly functional problem-solving contacts to distant places. Consequently, our evidence challenges static territorial models of innovation processes, advocating for processual and multidimensional perspectives that consider social networks and individual agency. Likewise, our study complements current research on rural governance by shifting the focus from key institutions and formal networks to less formally integrated actors and problem-solving networks.}, subject = {Qualitative network analysis; Assemblage; Bridging and bonding ties; Peripheral regions Germany}, language = {en} }