Research

Heike Mayer examines the internal strengths a city or a region has to develop its economy, leading to so-called endogenous development. She focuses on three themes, each addressing certain aspects of the endogenous potential: 1) knowledge regions, 2) entrepreneurship and 3) place-making and competitiveness in small towns (with Dr. Paul L. Knox). Heike’s research has been funded by a variety of institutions such as the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Kauffman Foundation, The Brookings Institution, the Small Business Administration, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and Arlington County, Virginia. Her work has been published in the Journal of the American Planning Association, Journal of Urban Affairs, Economic Development Quarterly, Economic Development Journal, and by the Brookings Institution. Heike co-directs the Economic Development Studio @ Virginia Tech (with Dr. John Provo). She is a native of Germany and she enjoys whitewater kayaking, travelling, and hiking.

To download Dr. Mayer's CV, click here.