Innovation, Networks and Localities

The relationship between innovation, networks and localities is of central concern for many nations. However, despite increasing interest in the components of this research triangle, efforts in these fields are hampered by a lackofconceptual and empirical insights. This volume brings together contributions from a distinguished group of scholars working in different but related disciplines, and aims to provide a fresh look at this research triangle. The objective is to offer a concise overview of current developments and insights derived from recent studies in Europe and North America. All of the contributions are based on original research undertaken in the various regions and nations and are published here for the first time. We are grateful to all those who have contributed to this volume for their willingness to participate in the project. Without their co-operation this book would not have been possible. We should like, in addition, to thank Angela Spence for her careful linguistic editing and assistance in co-ordinating the production of the camera ready copy. Lastly, but not least, we wish to express our gratitude for support from our home institutions, and in particular the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Institute for Urban and Regional Research), the Austrian Ministry for Science and Transport, the Styrian Government (Section for Science and Research) and the Federation of Austrian Industry in Styria for the financial backing received. April 1999 Manfred M.

Addresses the relationship between technological innovation and networks in geographical space International experts provide an excellent coverage of current conceptual and theoretical developments and valuable insights from both empirical and conceptual work Provision of insights into the changing European context and comparative insights on the American case

Autorentext
Manfred M. Fischer (born in 1947, Nuremberg, Germany) graduated in geography and mathematics from the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen (Germany). He holds a Ph.D. (summa cum laude) on urban modelling from the same university (1975), and a habilitation degree in human geography from the University of Vienna (1982). Since 1988 he is professor in economic geography and GIScience at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
For more than thirty years he has consistently made significant contributions to regional science and GIScience in general, and spatial analysis, GeoComputation and spatial econometrics in particular. He has published widely, both books and articles in more than 30 distinct academic journals.

Klappentext

The contributions in this volume explore the relationship between processes of technological innovation, their network characteristics and their local and regional development impacts. Case studies, empirical evidence and conceptual perspectives provide insights on the local effects of technological innovation, networks and related policies in Austria, Scotland, Italy, the Netherlands, Western Europe and the United States. The contributions consider spatial, developmental and network aspects of technological innovation diffusion, globalisation, static and dynamic externalities, local and regional clustering, interfirm cooperation, small firm development, knowledge spillovers, invention patenting, information technology and telecommunications, competitiveness, technological convergence, and industrial policy-making. This volume will be of interest to professionals, academics and policy-makers interested in technological change and its impacts on local areas and regions.

Inhalt
1 Innovation, Networks and Localities: An Introduction.- A: Knowledge, Innovation and Technology Networks.- 2 The Innovation Process and Network Activities of Manufacturing Firms.- 3 Are Innovation Networks Bounded by Proximity?.- 4 Globalisation and Territorial Production Systems.- 5 Clustering, Innovations and Trust: The Essentials of a Clustering Strategy for Scotland.- 6 Interfirm Co-Operation and Learning within SME-Networks: Two Case Studies from the Styrian Automotive Cluster.- B: Location of Knowledge-Based Activities and Spatial Patterns of Innovation.- 7 The Location of Knowledge-Based Activities: The Case of Computer Software.- 8 Localised Knowledge Spillovers and Trade Competitiveness: The Case of Italy.- 9 Innovation and Performance of SMEs in Italy: The Relevance of Spatial Aspects.- 10 Time-Space Patterns of US Innovation - Stability or Change?.- 11 Where are the World's Top 100 I.T. Firms and Why?.- C: Innovative Infrastructures, Technology Policies and Regional Development.- 12 The Adoption of New Communications Technologies by Firms in Rural Areas: A Scottish Case Study.- 13 Innovative Forms of Regional Structural Policy in Europe: The Role of Dominant Concepts and Knowledge Flows.- 14 Regional Technological Distance and Catching Up.- 15 Concluding Remarks.- Author Index.- List of Contributors.