Industrial policy has seen a revival in OECD countries in recent years. Focused on addressing current geopolitical challenges and supporting the transition towards Net Zero economies, these policies are putting a renewed focus on large scale investments and local links in production. They aim at supporting the development of green technologies and limiting the risks of disruptions in the supply chain of technological goods. The revival provides opportunities for many regions but also comes with multiple challenges for others. It raises questions that would be addressed in this special session, including:

• What implications does the revival of industrial policy have on the geography of innovation?
• Are international knowledge networks becoming more local?
• Are top innovators reassessing their links outside of their home region?
• Are foreign direct investments increasingly contained within global regions?
• How do such policies impact the productivity of sectors and firms, what about employment?
• How should place–specific innovation policies and smart specialisation strategies integrate and complement industrial policies?