Introduction

Welcome to the Project Page for Pro Silesia and “From Knowledge Networks to an Interregional Innovation System” The research is led by Dr. Adi Weidenfeld.

This page provides key information about both projects.

Adi Weidenfeld is an assistant professor at the Department of Innovation at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw. His research interests include interregional knowledge networks, regional diversification, innovation in tourism, and tourist attractions. He is working on the OPUS project, funded by the National Science Centre, which focuses on regional knowledge networks. Adi intensively studies the relationships between firms, regions and innovation processes from the perspective of evolutionary economic geography.

He worked as a senior lecturer in the UK and completed a Marie Curie fellowship in Finland. He has published over 140 academic papers, including over 40 articles (some in highly rated journals such as Regional Studies, Environment & Planning A, Environment & Planning C), as well as working papers, edited books (4), book chapters (14), research reports and conference papers (Regional Studies Association, American Association of Geographers, Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, European Regional Science Association) on the above topics.

He has been involved in numerous research, enterprise, and consultancy projects funded by external sources, including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Scottish Executive, Cardiff and Co, Welsh Government, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCFW), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Research Councils UK, and National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

Research Excellence Framework (REF) Coordinator for the School of Management. Member of the Academic Degrees, Research and Entrepreneurship Committee of the Cardiff Metropolitan University School of Management. Member of the Professors and Lecturers Promotions Committee at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards

  • 2022-2024 Individual Research Grant, Israel Science Foundation (PI) NIS360,000~) €105,600)
  • 2021-2023 OPUS- National Science Centre Poland (PI) zł796,440 ~) €174,540)
  • 2016 The Hanken Foundation Award €1500
  • 2014 The foundation Stiftelsen Svenska Handelshögskolan Award €4200
  • 2010- 2012 Marie Curie Intra-European Postdoctoral Fellowship €169, 888
  • 2006 Cornwall Heritage Trust £200
  • 2006- 2007 Savoy Educational Trust (annual award) £1,500
  • 2005-2008 Exeter Research Scholarship (ERS) (annual award) £25,000
  • 2005-2007 Ian Karten Annual Scholarship £1,000
  • 2005 AVI Fellowships £3,500
  • 2005-2007 Victor Ford Scholar, The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust £1,500
  • 2005-2007 Fred and Pat Tuckman Foundation (annual award) £1,000
  • ‏2005-2007 Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship (annual award) £2,000
  • 2003 Research Grant, The Bartlett School of Planning, UCL £500

Publications

  1. Weidenfeld, A., & Clifton, N. (2025). Investigating the systemic nature of knowledge networks of regions. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 215, 124079.
  2. Weidenfeld, A., & Clifton, N. (2025). The evolution of transnational municipal knowledge networks. Global Policy, 16(1), 45–63.
  3. Tchetchik, A., Mathews, Y., Weidenfeld, A., & Fleischer, A. (2024). The role of the spatial relationships between visitor attractions in shaping visiting patterns. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(1), 154–169.
  4. Weidenfeld, A., Makkonen, T., Clifton, N. (2021). From interregional knowledge networks to systems, Technological Forecasting and Social Change 171
  5. Paraskevaidis, P. & Weidenfeld, A. (2021), Perceived and projected authenticity of visitor attractions as signs: A Peircean semiotic analysis,   Journal of Destination Marketing & Management 19.
  6. Weidenfeld, A., Björk, P., Williams, A.M., (2021). Identifying Cultural and Cognitive Proximity Between Managers and Customers in Tornio and Haparanda Cross-Border Region. Journal of Borderlands Studies 36 (1), 99-118.
  7. Naumov, N., & Weidenfeld, A. (2019). From socialist icons to Post-Socialist attractions: Iconicity in Central and Eastern Europe. Geographia Polonica, 9 (4), 143-157.
  8. Paraskevaidis, P. & Weidenfeld, A. (2019), Sign consumption and sign promotion in visitor attractions: A netnography of the visitor experience in Titanic Belfast, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 31 (4), pp. 1937-1955.
  9. Weidenfeld, A. (2018). Tourism Diversification and its implications for smart specialization, Sustainability, 10(2), 319.  
  10. Makkonen, T., Williams, A. M., Weidenfeld, A., & Kaisto, V. (2018). Cross-border knowledge transfer and innovation in the European neighbourhood: Tourism cooperation at the Finnish-Russian border, Tourism Management, 68, 140-151.
  11. Makkonen, T., Williams, A. M., Mitze, T., & Weidenfeld, A. (2018). Science and technology cooperation in cross-border regions: a proximity approach with evidence for Northern Europe. European Planning Studies, 1-19.
  12.    Makkonen, T., Weidenfeld, A., & Williams, A. M. (2017). Cross-border regional innovation system integration: An analytical framework. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 108(6), 805-820. 
  13. Makkonen, T. & Weidenfeld. A. (2016). Knowledge-based urban development of cross-border twin cities International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development 7(4), pp. 389-406.
  14.   Weidenfeld, A., Bjork, P. and Williams, A.M. (2016). Cognitive and cultural proximity between service managers and customers in cross border regions: knowledge transfer implications, Scandinavian Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research 16 (1).
  15.   Ram, Y., Bjork, P., and Weidenfeld A. (2016). Authenticity and place attachment of major visitor attractions, Tourism Management  52, 110–122.
  16.   Weidenfeld, A., Williams, A.M and Butler, R. W. (2014), Spatial competition and agglomeration in the  visitor  attraction Sector, The Service Industries Journal, 34:175-195.
  17.   Weidenfeld, A. (2013). Tourism and cross border regional innovation systems. Annals of Tourism Research, 42, 191-213.
  1. Weidenfeld, A., & Leask, A. (2012). Exploring the relationship between visitor attractions and events: definitions and management factors. Current Issues in Tourism, 16, 552-569.
  2. Butler R.W and Weidenfeld, A. (2012), Cooperation and competition during the resort lifecycle, Tourism Recreation Research, 37, (11), pp. 15-26.
  3. Weidenfeld, A., Butler, R. W and Williams, A.M. (2011) The role of clustering, cooperation and complementarities in the visitor attraction sector, Current Issues in Tourism 14 (7), pp. 595-629.
  4. Weidenfeld, A., Williams, A.M and Butler, R. W.(2010) Knowledge transfer and innovations among tourist attractions, Annals of Tourism Research 37(3), pp. 604-626.
  5. Weidenfeld, A. (2010). Iconicity and ‘Flagshipness’ of tourist attractions, Annals of Tourism Research 37(3), pp. 851–854.
  6. Weidenfeld, A., Butler, R. W and Williams, A.M (2010) Clustering and compatibility between tourism attractions, International Journal of Tourism Research 12(1), pp.1-16.
  7. Weidenfeld, A. and Ron, A. (2009) Religious needs in the tourism industry, Anatolia: an International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research 19 (2), pp.357-361.
  8. Weidenfeld, A. (2006) Religious needs in the hospitality industry, Tourism and Hospitality Research 6(2), pp. 143-159.

Books

  1. Andriotis, K., Stylidis, D.& Weidenfeld , A. (eds) (2018). Tourism Policy and Planning: Issues and Challenges in Implementation, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, UK.
  2. Weidenfeld, A. Butler, R.W. and Williams A.M. (2016). Visitor Attractions and Events: Location and Linkages, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, UK.

Chapters

  1. Weidenfeld, A., & Hall, C. M. (2024). Tourism and Innovation. In The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Tourism, Chapter 44 (pp. 652–664).
  2. Weidenfeld, A., & Hall, C. M. (2014). Tourism in the development of regional and sectoral innovation systems. In A. A. Lew, C. M. Hall, & A. M. Williams (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Tourism (pp. 578- 588). Chichester: Wiley Blackwell
  3. Weidenfeld, A. Williams. A.M and Butler, R. W (2011), Why Cluster? Text and sub-text in the engagement of tourism development policies with the cluster concept, In Dredge, D. and Jenkins, J.M. (eds), Stories of Practice: Tourism Policy and Planning, pp. 335-358, Farnhem, UK Ashgate Publishing.
  4. Weidenfeld, A.(2008). How do I ‘join-up’? The use of collaborative planning methods in the UK, In Smeleva, I.A. and Shmelev. S. (eds) Sustainable Urban Development: Interdisciplinary Approach, pp. 58-72, St Petersburg University Press, Russia: St Petersburg.

The National Science Centre (NCN) funded the projects under grant number UMO-2019/35/B/HS5/04010.