Evolving scales and spaces of mission-oriented innovation policy in the digital age: digital transition of makerspace innovation in Shenzhen, China

Abstract This paper explores the under-researched actors in Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MOIP) research, specifically the transformative roles of makerspaces in the MOIP implementation in response to the widespread application of digital technologies. We develop a multi-scalar and spatially sensitive analytical framework to examine the evolution of makerspace-based innovation policies in China's “Silicon Valley”, i.e. Shenzhen, through the case of Huaqiangbei (HQB), which has evolved from a local cluster of consumer electronics distribution to a specialised makerspace for digital innovation. The study argues that makerspace innovation in HQB has been articulated through top-down and bottom-up directionality of China's MOIP and, particularly, the digital transition of makerspaces in Shenzhen. The findings elucidate that makerspaces have turned into hybrid spaces for digital fabrication and grassroots innovation. This research enriches MOIP literature by highlighting the evolving scales and spaces of China's innovation policies in the digital era.