Staff Profile

I have over 25 years’ experience as a researcher, policy maker and practitioner in local, regional and international economic development. I joined the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) at Newcastle University in 2011 as a Senior Research Associate where my main focus is contributing to an evolving understanding of the role of universities as ‘anchor’ institutions in local/regional economic growth and innovation, and the effects of place in shaping this role. I am also interested in the process of building local collaborative leadership to develop innovative solutions to meeting local challenges and opportunities.

From January 2019 to July 2023 I served as Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS), assisting the Dean in shaping and implementing the Faculty's strategy for research and innovation. 

Since 1st August 2022 I have been Principal Investigator and Strategic Director of Insights North East, a new £5.5m initiative led by Newcastle University and delivered via a core partnership with the NHS, North of Tyne Combined Authority, Newcastle City Council, and Northumbria University. It is supported by Research England's Development Fund.  

Insights North East will be a demonstrator to illustrate how anchor institutions can collaborate to maximise the potential for university research to inform place-based policy-making and practice, ensuring that future research agendas are demand-led and shaped by the needs of the North East. 

I am the author/co-author of more than 30 academic and policy publications exploring the barriers and drivers to universities’ involvement in regional innovation and have acted as adviser to local, national and international organisations on the same topic, helping to shape new policy development.

Google scholar: Click here.

ORCID: Click here.

ResearchGate: Click here.

SCOPUS: Click here.

Selected current and recent projects:

Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership – Managing an RCUK-funded £400K 18 month project that aims to link universities to the public, private and community sectors in order to create a ‘test-bed city of innovation’ in Newcastle. http://www.newcastlecityfutures.org/

Leading and Managing the Civic University – Managing and contributing to a five year programme of action research with 8 universities in 4 European countries to test and develop the concept of the ‘civic university’.  The results are captured in the following book http://www.e-elgar.com/shop/the-civic-university

Erasmus ‘Thinking Smart’ – Work package leader for a European Commission funded project exploring the role of universities in the design and implementation of regional strategies for ‘smart specialisation’ (innovation) involving partners from universities in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland.  http://thinkingsmart.utad.pt/

Higher Education and Smart Specialisation (HESS) – International expert for a European Commission project to develop a programme of policy research around the role of higher education in smart specialisation based on results from pilot studies in Spain and Romania.  http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/hess

Harmonising the Intellectual Capital of Universities in the Core Cities – Analysis of the current and potential role of universities in contributing to city development in 10 UK cities and development of a proposition for a support platform to facilitate more and better linkages between universities and cities.

University of Warwick Chancellor's Commission – Co-author of an underpinning think piece on the role of universities in the leadership and management of place to underpin the work of the commission - an independent inquiry established to consider the future role of University of Warwick in Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider region. http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/research/warwickcommission/chancellorscommission/

Measuring the impact of Higher Education Institutions in Ireland – Member of an international OECD study team with a specific focus on local and regional impact of higher education.  http://www.oecd.org/ireland/supporting-entrepreneurship-and-innovation-in-higher-education-in-ireland-9789264270893-en.htm

The Luneburg University Innovation Incubator – Led a study of the impact of a large scale project for building the capacity of the university to contribute to regional development.  http://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/FINAL_OECD%20Luneburg_report.pdf

Evaluation of University-Region Cooperation – Evaluation of the outputs, results and impacts of the cooperation agreement between Region Värmland and Karlstad University in North-Mid Sweden and recommendations for future cooperative programmes.  Findings are summarised in the following publication. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21681376.2015.1085329

Universities and Smart Specialisation – Development of a set of policy papers and case studies to raise awareness and cooperation between universities and regional authorities across Europe about the role of universities in regional innovation and how they can work together to overcome challenges and barriers. http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/20182/115084/JRC85508_Universities_and_S3.pdf/23a84c8b-233f-4cee-aae9-c89914f23e9c

Connecting Universities to Regional Growth – Researching the role of HEIs in regional development and producing a guidebook to promote the active engagement of universities in delivering European funded projects.  http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/presenta/universities2011/universities2011_en.pdf

• Articles

  • Kempton L, Vallance P, Green L. Higher Education Institutions as Learning Organisations in the Entrepreneurial Development Process. 2025. Submitted.
  • Morales D, Green L, Gaitan Cadena C, Deitrick S, Glass MR, Kempton L. Defining Inclusive Innovation: Challenges and Lessons for Innovation Districts. Regional Studies 2025. In Press.
  • MacKinnon D, Kempton L, O'Brien P, Ormerod E, Pike A, Tomaney J. Reframing urban and regional 'development' for 'left behind' places. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy & Society 2022, 15(1), 39-56.
  • Pike A, Coombes M, Kempton L, MacKinnon D, O'Brien P. Decentralising governance in England. Town & Country Planning 2020, 89(11), 409-416.
  • Vallance P, Tewdwr-Jones M, Kempton L. Building collaborative platforms for urban innovation: Newcastle City Futures as a quadruple helix intermediary. European Urban and Regional Studies 2020, 27(4), 325-341.
  • Kempton L. Wishful thinking? Towards a more realistic role for universities in regional innovation policy. European Planning Studies 2019, 27(11), 2248-2265.
  • Vallance P, Tewdwr-Jones M, Kempton L. Facilitating spaces for place-based leadership in centralised governance systems: the case of Newcastle City Futures. Regional Studies 2019, 53(12), 1723-1733.
  • Kempton L. Delivering Smart Specialization in Peripheral Regions: the Role of Universities. Regional Studies, Regional Science 2015, 2(1), 488-495.
  • Goddard J, Coombes M, Kempton L, Vallance P. Universities as anchor institutions in cities in a turbulent funding environment: vulnerable institutions and vulnerable places in England. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society 2014, 7(2), 307-325.
  • Goddard J, Kempton L, Vallance P. Universities and Smart Specialisation: challenges, tensions and opportunities for the innovation strategies of European regions. Ekonomiaz: revista vasca de economia 2013, (83), 83-102.

• Authored Book

  • Kempton L, Rego M, Alves L, Vallance P, Serra M, Tewdwr-Jones M, Tomlinson PR. Putting Universities in their Place: An Evidence-Based Approach to Understanding the Contribution of Higher Education to Local and Regional Development. London, UK: Routledge, 2021.

• Book Chapters

  • Kempton L, Marlow D, Deitrick D, Glass M, Travis R. Swimming Against the Tide: The role for social sciences and humanities in contributing to a more inclusive approach to innovation in post-industrial cities. In: Francesca Spigarelli, Louise Kempton and Lorenzo Compagnucci, ed. Entrepreneurship and Digital Humanities: How Universities Shape the Future of Labour. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024, pp.121-135.
  • Kempton L, Marlow D. Realising the potential of universities for inclusive, innovation- led development: the case of the Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership pilot. In: Steer M; Davoudi S; Shucksmith M; Todd L, ed. Hope Under Neoliberal Austerity: Responses from Civil Society and Civic Universities. Bristol: Policy Press, 2021, pp.169-186.
  • Goddard J, Hazelkorn E, Kempton L, Vallance P. Postscript: The civic university as a normative model?. In: The Civic University: The Policy and Leadership Challenges. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 2016, pp.298-307.
  • Kempton L. Institutional challenges and tensions. In: The Civic University: The Policy and Leadership Challenges. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 2016, pp.281-297.
  • Goddard J, Kempton L, Vallance P. The civic university: connecting the global and the local. In: Roberta Capello, Agnieszka Olechnicka, Grzegorz Gorzelak, ed. Universities, Cities and Regions: Loci for Knowledge and Innovation Creation. Abingdon: Routledge, 2013, pp.43-63.
  • Goddard J, Kempton L, Marlow D. LEPs, Universities and Europe – Opportunities and challenges for supporting sub-national innovation in England. In: Ward, M ; Hardy, S, ed. Where next for Local Enterprise Partnerships?. London: Smith Institute, 2013.
  • Goddard J, Kempton L. The civic university: Connecting the global and the local. In: Universities, Cities and Regions: Loci for Knowledge and Innovation Creation. Taylor and Francis, 2012, pp.43-63.

• Edited Books

  • Spigarelli F, Kempton L, Compagnucci L, ed. Entrepreneurship and Digital Humanities: How Universities Shape the Future of Labour. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024. In Press.
  • Goddard J, Hazelkorn E, Kempton L, Vallance P, ed. The Civic University: The Policy and Leadership Challenges. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016.

• Editorial

  • Goddard J, Hazelkorn E, Kempton L, Vallance P. Introduction: Why the civic university?. The Civic University: The Policy and Leadership Challenges 2016, 3-15.

• Online Publications

  • Stabler A, Kempton L. Putting Systems Leadership in its Place. London, UK: National Leadership Centre, Cabinet Office, 2020. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/926850/NLC-thinkpiece-Systems-Leadership-STABLER-KEMPTON.pdf.
  • Pike A, Kempton L, MacKinnon D, O'Brien P, Tomaney J. Submission to HCLG Select Committee Inquiry on Progress on Devolution in England. 2019. Available at: http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/housing-communities-and-local-government-committee/progress-on-devolution-in-england/written/104700.pdf.

• Reports

  • Pike A, Coombes M, Kempton L, Mackinnon D, O'Brien P. A response to the UK2070 Commission’s Second Report by the Centre for Urban and Regional Development (CURDS). http://uk2070.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/PIKE-Final-Submission-UK2070-Commission.pdf: UK2070 Commission, 2020. UK2070 Commission Think Pieces.
  • Marlow D, Kempton L, Tewdwr-Jones M. Inclusive Future Growth in England’s Cities and Regions: Realising the Transformational University Dividend. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle City Futures, 2019.
  • O'Brien P, Kempton L, MacKinnon D, Pike A. Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee inquiry into 'Supporting Regional Investment and Growth': A submission by the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies. 2019. In Preparation.
  • Vallance P, Kempton L. Thinking Smart Project: Entrepreneurial Discovery in HEIs - The case of Newcastle University and North East England. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, 2017.
  • Vallance P, Kempton L. Thinking Smart Project: Entrepreneurial Discovery in HEIs - Summary of findings from five European universities and regions. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, 2017.
  • Pike A, Lee N, MacKinnon D, Kempton L, Iddewala Y. Job Creation and Inclusive Growth in Cities. York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2017.
  • Kempton L. Enhancing the impact of Ireland’s higher education institutions. EU: OECD, 2017. OECD Skills Studies.
  • Butt M, Cross E, Holliman N, Kempton L, Legget J, Mackenzie E, Ross H, Sapsed J, Swords J, Vallance P, Whitehurst F. Creative Fuse North East: Initial Report. Newcastle University, UK, 2017.
  • Goddard J, Kempton L. The Civic University: Universities in leadership and management of place. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, 2016. RR2013/03.
  • Pike A, Kempton L, Marlow D, O'Brien P, Tomaney J. Decentralisation: Issues, Principles and Practice. CURDS, Newcastle University, 2016.
  • O'Brien P, Pike A, Kempton L, MacKinnon D, McCarthy A. CURDS evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee Inquiry into the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine. 2016.
  • Kempton L, Hofer A-R. Lessons Learned from the Lüneburg Innovation Incubator. Paris: OECD, 2015.
  • Kempton L, Bradley D. Enterprise to Business Final Evaluation Report (Draft). Newcastle upon Tyne: Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, Newcastle University, 2015. Innovation and Technology Research Reports RR2015/01.
  • Kempton L, Goddard J, Edwards J, Hegyi FB, Elena-Pérez S. Universities and Smart Specialisation. Seville: Institute for Prospective and Technological Studies, Joint Research Centre, 2014. JRC Technical Reports; S3 Policy Brief Series JRC85508.
  • Healy A, Perkmann M, Goddard J, Kempton L. Measuring the Impact of University-Business Cooperation: Final Report. Brussels: Directorate General for Education and Culture, European Commission, 2014.
  • Fisher B, Goddard JG, Kempton L, Marlow D, Robson L, Whitehurst FC. North East Local Economic Partnership: Smart Specialisation Report. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: North East Local Economic Partnership, 2013.
  • Vallance P, Goddard J, Kempton L. Research Impacts - The Perspective of the Academic Community: Summary of the Main Findings from an Online Survey. Unpublished Report (Copy available from author), 2011.
  • Goddard J, Kempton L. Connecting Universities to Regional Growth:A Practical Guide. Brussels: European Commission, 2011.