Ron Boschma proposes an evolutionary approach to regional studies on global value chains (GVCs), integrating concepts from evolutionary economic geography (EEG) and economic complexity. The approach focuses on the relatedness and complexity of industry functions to understand how regions can develop and upgrade GVCs. It emphasizes the importance of relatedness between industry functions and their complexity in determining the ability of regions to diversify and upgrade their participation in GVCs. The framework suggests that regions with higher relatedness and complexity in their industry functions are more likely to succeed in upgrading their GVCs. The study also highlights the role of external linkages and complementary capabilities in facilitating functional upgrading. The approach offers a new perspective on regional diversification, emphasizing the need for policies that support the development of complex industry functions and the integration of regional capabilities into global value chains. The study also discusses the potential of this framework to address issues such as the low value-added trap and regional inequalities, and to inform regional innovation policies. The relatedness/complexity framework provides a comprehensive tool for analyzing the geography of GVCs and offers insights into the dynamics of upgrading and downgrading in regional contexts.Ron Boschma proposes an evolutionary approach to regional studies on global value chains (GVCs), integrating concepts from evolutionary economic geography (EEG) and economic complexity. The approach focuses on the relatedness and complexity of industry functions to understand how regions can develop and upgrade GVCs. It emphasizes the importance of relatedness between industry functions and their complexity in determining the ability of regions to diversify and upgrade their participation in GVCs. The framework suggests that regions with higher relatedness and complexity in their industry functions are more likely to succeed in upgrading their GVCs. The study also highlights the role of external linkages and complementary capabilities in facilitating functional upgrading. The approach offers a new perspective on regional diversification, emphasizing the need for policies that support the development of complex industry functions and the integration of regional capabilities into global value chains. The study also discusses the potential of this framework to address issues such as the low value-added trap and regional inequalities, and to inform regional innovation policies. The relatedness/complexity framework provides a comprehensive tool for analyzing the geography of GVCs and offers insights into the dynamics of upgrading and downgrading in regional contexts.