Surveying the Literature on Territorial Innovation Systems: A Suggested Interpretation Framework

Abstract

A very important stream of theoretical and empirical research has marked the literature on Territorial Innovation Systems (TIS) over the last twenty years. One key achievement of this research effort is the emphasis put on the structuring role of territorial dynamics in the deployment and spatial organisation of industries and innovation activities. However, this literature displays a large spectrum of rather heterogeneous conceptual and analytical approaches of TIS. This blurs the reading of the representations and interpretations of TIS that are proposed. This article aims at showing how the various approaches may be better put in perspective according to three key dimensions of TIS, i.e. respectively: their territorial anchorage; the degree of their openness and the scales involved; finally, their very foundational logics (market vs. network-oriented).