The Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation (GovInn) at the University of Pretoria (UP) is the first research institution in Africa dedicated entirely to governance innovation. It is not only a cutting-edge research facility, but also an 'innovation laboratory', capable of generating new thinking about governance and development, that attracts innovators from all over the world.

Besides housing the world's largest database on land acquisitions (the Land Matrix), GovInn focusses on innovative forms of governance in the field of economic and human development, as well as on common resources ('the commons') and regional cooperation in fields as varied as human security, migration and wildlife management.  .

Prof Lorenzo Fioramonti, Director of GovInn, explains: 'We help countries rethink their development trajectories and how they intend to progress in the 21st century. Our research includes pioneering projects in the fields of social and ecosystem wellbeing, community development, new business models and alternative currency systems. We also partner with African countries to redesign their metrics of economic performance, develop innovative approaches to common resources (from land to water) and improve regional integration.'

The focus on regional (transboundary) governance is one of the main attributes that place GovInn on the cutting edge, in view of the fact that most challenges to the economic, political and social realms do not recognise national borders and require integrated, multilevel and holistic regional approaches.

In short, GovInn is an intellectual 'inn' for innovation in the 21st century.