Multi-scalar knowledge bases for new regional industrial path development: toward a typology

Abstract

ABSTRACT The topic of new regional industrial path development has recently received increasing attention in economic geography. The core idea is that actors in a specific region mobilize both intra-regional and extra-regional resources, especially knowledge, to develop a new regional industrial path. However, the extant literature has not yet fully explored how actors in different types of regions mobilize different forms of knowledge at various spatial scales to develop different types of paths. To fill this gap, we establish an analytical framework combining four key theoretical concepts, that is, new regional industrial path development, regional innovation systems, differentiated knowledge bases and multi-scalar knowledge sourcing. Drawing on this framework, we propose a typology distinguishing six scenarios. To inform future research, the paper outlines some strategies to operationalize this framework and illustrates these through a brief case study.