Regional Innovation Systems Research Articles

Research on the Impact of Enterprise Innovation and Government Organization Innovation on Regional Collaborative Innovation

Improving the regional innovation system and developing new organizational innovations to continuously enhance regional innovation capabilities are key measures for building a regional innovation hub and achieving high-quality economic development. This study first theoretically elucidates the impact mechanism of enterprise innovation agglomeration and government policy uncertainty on regional innovation capability, and thus clarifies such impact on regional organizational innovation. Based on urban panel data, this article empirically analyzes their impact on regional innovation. Based on the research results, the agglomeration of manufacturing industry in cities can significantly improve regional innovation capabilities. The policy uncertainty brought about by the mobility of municipal party secretaries has a restraining effect on the enhancement of regional innovation capabilities. The higher the degree of marketization in a city, the more significant the role of manufacturing agglomeration in enhancing regional innovation capabilities, thereby weakening the inhibitory effect of policies.

Digital economy and urban green innovation: from the perspective of environmental regulation

As a new economic form, the digital economy plays an important role in promoting urban green innovation. Based on the data for 287 cities at the prefecture level and above in China from 2011 to 2019, we calculated the development level of the digital economy at the city level and empirically tested the influence mechanism of the digital economy empowering urban green innovation. The results show that the digital economy can not only directly promote urban green innovation but also indirectly have a positive impact on green innovation by improving the intensity of environmental regulation. This conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. The incentive effect of the digital economy on green innovation shows a certain heterogeneity. The eastern region and cities with high administrative levels receive more green innovation spillover dividends from the digital economy than the central and western regions and cities with low administrative levels. Further analysis shows that the promoting effect of the digital economy on green innovation presents non-linear spillover characteristics of an “increasing marginal effect”, indicating that the “network effect” and “Metcalfe’s law” are still applicable in regional innovation systems.

Start-ups formation in Italy: the role of regional innovation systems

ABSTRACT What is the role of regional innovation systems in start-up formation? To explain regional variation in start-up rates, we conducted a mixed-methods study based on data from Italy. Through in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, we assessed the role of RIS in the start-up process. Next, we estimated a multivariate OLS regression model. We found that in Italian regions start-up formation depends on the knowledge generation and diffusion subsystem: quality of research, entrepreneurial education, networking opportunities and access to resources. The innovativeness of regional industrial bases has a limited effect on start-up formation. We interpret the results as an effect of an institutional setting that creates limited incentives for innovative entrepreneurship. Overall, we find that the innovation performance of Italian regions is not associated with start-up formation rates.

Can Global Value Chain Upgrading Promote Regional Economic Growth? Empirical Evidence and Mechanism Analysis Based on City-Level Panel Data in China

Since launching its reforms and opening up, China has actively integrated itself into global value chains (GVCs) and experienced continuous growth. However, there exists a significant imbalance between GVC upgrading and economic growth across regions in China. Can GVC upgrading promote economic growth at the regional level? Despite the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence provided at the national level, research on GVC upgrading at the subnational level remains limited. This study constructs a temporal indicator to measure GVC upgrading at the finest subnational level, including cities at the prefecture level and above, and employs panel fixed effects (FE) and mediation models to examine the impact and mechanism of GVC upgrading on regional economic growth, aiming for a meaningful exploration in this area. The results show that GVC upgrading has a significant positive effect on regional economic growth with robust performance. Specifically, a 1-standard-deviation improvement in GVC upgrading leads to a 0.054-standard-deviation increase in the logarithm of per capita gross domestic product (GDP). Heterogeneity analysis shows that the promotion effect is more pronounced in coastal areas and administrative centers. Mechanism analysis indicates that GVC upgrading promotes regional economic growth by facilitating capital accumulation, promoting technological progress, and enhancing human resources, among which, facilitating capital accumulation plays the most significant role, accounting for over 70% of the economic growth effects associated with GVC upgrading. Thus, China should create an enabling environment for promoting GVC upgrading, enhance capital accumulation, foster regional innovation systems, improve the quality of human capital, and promote domestic market integration.

Aligning social networks and co-designed visions to foster systemic innovation in the Alps

Mountain regions face substantial challenges and opportunities arising from global change. The capacity of mountain regions for (systemic) innovation will be determinant to the success of system transformations envisioned by social actors of mountain communities. By analysing the social networks of two regions in the Alps and relating them to desired future visions of sustainable regional development, we provide insights about innovative capacities in mountain regions and propose how to strengthen these capacities in order to support regional transformations. In particular, we analyse innovation systems’ collaboration networks to evaluate the innovative capacity of communities, co-construct visions with mountain stakeholders, and assess innovation requirements to meet these visions. Accordingly, we propose changes to the collaboration networks for addressing regional innovation system (RIS) capacities to help achieve visions through systemic innovation. Our analysis furthers the understanding on the type and magnitude of regional innovation system changes required to more effectively address desired transformative visions in mountain regions. We close by discussing implications of our approach for the assessment of innovative capacity and the transformation of mountain regions.Graphical

Citizens’ Perceptions of Research and Innovation Dilemmas: Insights from a Large-Scale Survey in Four European Regions

This study presents a valuable dataset supporting regional research and innovation systems in four European regions: Vestland (Norway), Kriti (Greece), Galicia (Spain), and Overijssel (Netherlands). It focuses on understanding citizens’ perceptions of research and innovation dilemmas within these regions. The dataset comprises 14 questions aligned with the Responsible Research and Innovation framework, evaluating stakeholders’ techno-moral attitudes towards technological change and socio-economic outcomes. A survey conducted between April and July 2020 gathered responses from 7,729 individuals, ensuring broad age and gender representation. This dataset is highly valuable for regional policymaking and policymakers’ engagement strategies, enhancing equity and effectiveness in addressing grand societal challenges. Research outcomes reveal citizens’ aspirations for developmental trajectories prioritizing quality-of-life, renewable energy, and support for innovative SMEs in their regions. The study contributes to existing research by highlighting limited citizen trust and expectations of effective government actions in addressing societal challenges at the regional level.

Combining knowledge bases for small wins in peripheral regions. An analysis of the role of innovation intermediaries in sustainability transitions

A growing number of economic geography scholars have discussed the spatial dimensions of sustainability transitions (STs), which entail radical changes in socio-technical systems to overcome societal, economic, and ecological problems. This involves innovation processes with a broad range of distinctive actors. Innovation intermediaries, such as universities and research institutes, are needed to support and accelerate the transfer of knowledge. Nevertheless, little is known about the influence of such actors on the configuration of the knowledge bases required for STs. This article presents insights from 14 semi-structured interviews with experts conducted in a regional innovation system (RIS) in East Germany. In cooperation with the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, we investigate four innovation intermediaries in the region of Eberswalde. The analytical framework links the concept of differentiated knowledge bases to small wins. Our results show that, first, in the Eberswalde region, the relevant actors involved in regional knowledge transfer focus predominantly on synthetic knowledge bases, such as experience-based knowledge of local area settings. Second, symbolic knowledge bases are crucial and often prerequisites for intermediary organizations to recombine knowledge bases and support the capability to innovate in regional knowledge transfer. Symbolic knowledge entails the ability to translate scientific findings to a language that can be understood by the various actors in knowledge transfer. Third, changes in organizational structures complement changes in cultural–cognitive and normative institutions to support innovation on a systemic level and foster change processes.

Regional studies and frugal innovation: a missing link?

ABSTRACT Innovation has been a key topic of interest for the regional studies community. In particular, the regional characteristics and impacts of innovation have been a popular theme of enquiry and theorisation, and the community has been at the forefront of discussions around regional innovation systems, in particular. However, we see a large gap in the current state of the art around frugal innovation. The focus of this paper is to place this topic at the heart of our discussions of regional innovation. This is done by providing a case study of frugal innovations in Kashmir over the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating the urgency and relevance of exploring frugal innovation at the regional level, especially as a rapid place-based crisis response, specifically in a developing nation.

Инновационный процесс в Арктике: мировые тенденции и актуальные российские проблемы

The pursuit of innovation-driven growth in the Russian Arctic aligns with global trends associated with the advent of a new Kondratieff cycle, which spurs demand for groundbreaking technologies. This article aims to identify significant trends and challenges related to innovation in the Arctic that require focused attention and further research. The concept of national and regional innovation systems serves as the theoretical framework, with a selective comparative study of Russian and international practices as the primary research method. Our analysis demonstrates that Russia lags behind the majority of Arctic nations in terms of innovation ratings, including the quality of institutions, the structure of the economy, and infrastructure development. Research and industrial policy priorities remain unclear. Innovations enter the Russian Arctic through large-scale projects within extractive industries, which rely on imported technologies and raw material exports. However, as Norway’s experience proves, these projects can leverage the research and production potential of the North if government support is provided. The article addresses corporate challenges associated with digitalization in the Arctic using fiber cable installation as a case study. Currently, the only operational lines are the line located off the Alaska North Slope and the first leg of the Russian Polar Express line, which provides Russia with an important competitive edge. We conclude that the government should play a crucial role in promoting innovations in the Russian Arctic, acting through state-owned enterprises, public agencies, and subsidized private entities. The novelty of the study lies in addressing phenomena that have received insufficient attention in Russian research while considering international practices. The practical relevance of the study lies in its potential application to strategic planning for innovation-driven growth in the Arctic. Further research should seek to identify and closely study specific challenges of the Russian Arctic innovation system in comparison with international best practices in order to provide concrete practical recommendations.

Ensuring the competitiveness of regional enterprises on an innovative basis

National and regional innovation systems are being formed in Ukraine. In the era of global transformations, innovations become the main factor in increasing the efficiency of industrial enterprises of the region in order to ensure its competitiveness. The solution to this problem requires a comprehensive analysis and rethinking of existing approaches, the creation of theoretical foundations for ensuring the effective development of industrial enterprises in the region. The activity of corporate structures in creating new innovations and effective communications for their transfer becomes a factor of economic development, increasing the competitiveness of the region. The cost of modern products is determined not only by the costs of material production, but also by research and development works, which, in turn, can be an innovative component of the development of industrial enterprises. The use of innovations makes it possible to increase not only the efficiency of individual components of the corporate structure, but also, if proper attention is paid to integration processes, of the entire corporate management system. This determines the increased interest of society, in particular scientists and practitioners, in the ways of effective formation of the corporate innovation management system of an industrial enterprise.
 The following tools can be used to stimulate the modernization of industry in order to ensure the competitiveness of the region on the basis of innovations: the formation of the sales market for competitive products and services using mechanisms that regulate the purchase of domestic science-intensive products for state needs; stimulation of investments in the modernization of industry based on innovations by improving the mechanisms of partial financing of large innovative projects by the state and private business; motivation of enterprises to adopt innovations on the basis of incentives for domestic enterprises to purchase modern technologies created by Ukrainian developers; stimulation of industrial reform processes; creation of corporate structures that unite the spheres of production and scientific and technical activity. Among them are state centers of science and high technologies.
 Further development of the country's national innovation system should be aimed, first of all, at ensuring the system integration of all its elements and their effective interaction.

The Role of Social Infrastructure in ICT Adoption Program: A Perspective from the Indonesian Regional Innovation System

Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption is nowadays regarded as an important program due to the fourth industrial revolution across the globe. In this study, we aimed to fill the literature gap by scrutinizing the role of social infrastructure in ICT adoption programs, which is still not much discussed. A perspective of regional innovation systems (RIS) was used because RIS key components resemble the concept of social infrastructure. We measured the implementation of the ICT adoption program in 19 cities in Indonesia by clustering them into two groups (strong and emerging innovators). To determine which social infrastructure indicators are most important in explaining the grouping, especially the strong one as the best practice, we additionally measured the F-test and t-test. The clustering results showed that cities in strong innovator clusters have homogeneously high performance in terms of the number of collaborations, local communities, and products that meet international standards. We suggest that such three indicators be taken into consideration in policymaking at the regional and national levels to improve the performance of the ICT adoption program.

New Path Development in a Semi-peripheral Auto Region: The Case of Ontario

The automotive industry is facing disruptive trends and great uncertainty. The path forward for automotive jurisdictions is uncertain in terms of how automakers will allocate the production of new connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AVs). The introduction of C/AV technologies creates high levels of uncertainty both for individual firms and regional innovation systems (RISs). The intersection of established production competencies with emerging digital technologies raises questions about how regional pathways and RISs develop and how local and RISs adapt to changes in global innovation networks. Building on recent contributions to evolutionary economic geography (EEG), the article examines the impact of the current technology transition on Ontario’s automotive sector. Drawing on rich empirical data and recent conceptual advances in theorizing about new path development from EEG and the literature on global innovation networks, the article casts light on how the intersection between global innovation networks and regional actors is altering Ontario’s developmental path. It examines the potential for Ontario to diversify away from its historic status as a semi-peripheral automotive region with limited investment in research and development to one with a greater role in the emerging paradigm of connected and autonomous vehicles. The article explores the potential for path diversification based on interpath dynamics between the region's auto and information and computer technology sectors as well as the importance of both system-level and firm-level agency for altering the region's developmental trajectory.

Exploring the theoretical foundations of innovation ecosystems between 2006 and 2020: an analysis at the different approaches

PurposeThis study aims to map and assess the conceptual development of the innovation ecosystem literature.Design/methodology/approachA bibliometric analysis was performed using the VOSviewer, RStudio software, Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny packages. To accomplish this, 367 publications published between 2006 and 2020 and indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases were assessed.FindingsThe results demonstrate a rise in research during 2016, with almost 30% of publications concentrated in only six journals. The co-citation analysis presented four clusters: case studies, business and innovation ecosystems (platform approach), open innovation and national and regional innovation systems (territorial approach). We proposed a theoretical framework based on two approaches in the innovation ecosystem literature based on co-citation analysis: platform, which has its roots in the literature on strategy, and territory, grounded in research on economic geography literature.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of the study is that only articles published in journals were analyzed, leaving out of the sample those published in congresses, books and other sources.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature by presenting and clarifying the different conceptual trajectories of research in innovation ecosystems. We also proposed an analytical framework based on the two main approaches to innovation ecosystems – platform and territory. This framework presents the critical elements of managing innovation ecosystems from both perspectives.

Assessment of the competitiveness of regional innovation systems

Subject. This article analyzes the development of high-tech production in Russia. Objectives. The article aims to theoretically substantiate, develop and test a methodology for assessing the competitiveness of innovation systems in Russian regions. Methods. For the study, we used a statistical analysis. Results. The article presents a rating of innovative regions of Russia, which helps determine promising areas of economic development of the country. Conclusions. The development of the regional innovation system is determined by external macroeconomic conditions, as well as internal economic, geographical, sectoral and technological factors.

Harmonization of the strategic priorities of bordering regions based on the strategy of «smart» specialization

The most important direction of cross-border cooperation of the EAEU countries is the development and use of tools to reduce the lack of knowledge of the Unions regions about each others potential in the field of industrial and scientific-technological development, identify the interconnectedness of regions and stimulate the development of interregional projects. In this respect, another major integration grouping of countries the European Union has already gained sufficient experience in developing strategies for cross-border and interregional cooperation to enhance the capacity of research and innovation, as well as the harmonization of strategic priorities of territorial development, where the European smart specialization is used as a methodological basis. The purpose of this article is to develop methodological principles of smart specialization in the implementation of cross-border cooperation based on the experience of the EU and other countries, proposals for their use in the development and implementation of programs and projects of cross-border cooperation of the regions of the Russian Federation. The authors have identified that the specificity of harmonization of strategic priorities of bordering regions is based on the identification of regional priorities from internal point of view and their subsequent interregional harmonization in two dimensions: 1) an innovative one, involving the formation of a cross-border regional innovation system; and 2) a socio-economic one, based on the potential of the border situation when forming a strategy for the socio-economic development of bordering territories. The conditions for the harmonization of strategic priorities of bordering regions are: 1) common problems, goals and objectives in the field of innovation, sustainable and digital development; 2) strengths and key competencies of participants of cross-border regions; 3) interested parties such as: territorial authorities, HEIs and research organizations, business, only if they have motivation in solving the identified problems.

How Do Clusters Drive Firm Performance in the Regional Innovation System? A Causal Complexity Analysis in Chinese Strategic Emerging Industries

From a configurational perspective, this study aims to explain how clusters drive firm performance in the regional innovation system by considering the relationship between cluster and firm performance as causal complexity. Using an original dataset comprising 292 Chinese firms in strategic emerging industries (SEIs), this study employs a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to investigate the conjunction effects of interorganizational dependence, network embeddedness, and ambidextrous innovation on cluster firms’ performance. The results showed that the fsQCA method uncovers causal combinations of these cluster factors that lead to high performance. These configurations imply two alternative pathways to enhance performance, where exploitative innovation is identified as the core causal condition.

Andaliman development as a regional superior product in Toba district North Sumatra Province based on regional innovation system

Andaliman as a spice that is closely related to people’s lives in Toba Regency can provide added value through a regional innovation system (RIS). This study aims to analyze the development of andaliman as a superior product in the Lake Toba area based on RIS. The research was conducted in October 2021, located in Toba Regency, North Sumatra Province. Key informants in the research are: Regional Development Planning Agency; Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Department of Trade, Industry and Small and Medium Enterprise Cooperatives; andaliman farmers; as well as, entrepreneurs of andaliman processed products. This study uses a qualitative method with an observation approach. Data were collected through: documentation studies, surveys, interviews and Focus Group Discussion. The development of andaliman as a regional superior product based on the regional innovation system in Toba Regency has the potential to be realized with the support of innovation actors consisting of academic, business, community, and government components.

A Theoretical Framework for a Local Energy Innovation System Based on the Renewable Energy Case of Poland

The aim of this research is to create a theoretical framework for a local energy innovation system based on renewable energy sources. For this purpose, four types of clusters were outlined based on energy-generation capacity and socio-economic factors such as “local wealth”, “relational capital”, “scientific and research capital” and “energy demand”. This classification revealed areas of Poland that have diverse features in terms of energy-generation capacity and innovation abilities. For each type of area, energy potentials combined with innovation abilities were established. To understand how areas with insufficient energy and innovation capacities could be supported in their development of local energy sovereignty, the concept of the regional innovation system has been adjusted. The results of the research can serve as an aid in the development of national and regional energy policies focused on the specificity and capacity of energy generation and innovation of each area.

The efficiency evaluation and influencing factor analysis of regional green innovation: a refined dynamic network slacks-based measure approach

PurposeThis study aims to propose a refined dynamic network slacks-based measure (DNSBM) to evaluate the efficiency of China's regional green innovation system which consists of basic research, applied research and commercialization stages and explore the influencing factors of the stage efficiency.Design/methodology/approachA two-step procedure is employed. The first step proposes an improved DNSBM model with flexible settings of stages' input or output efficiency and uses second order cone programming (SOCP) to solve the non-linear problem. In the second step, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Tobit models are used to explore the influencing factors of the stage efficiency. Global Dynamic Malmquist Productivity Index (GDMPI) and Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition method are introduced for further discussion of the productivity change and regional differences.FindingsOn average, Chinese provincial green innovation efficiency should be improved by 24.11% to become efficient. The commercialization stage outperforms the stages of basic research and applied research. Comparisons between the proposed model and input-oriented, output-oriented and non-oriented DNSBM models show that the proposed model is more advanced because it allows some stages to have output-oriented model characteristics while the other stages have input-oriented model characteristics. The examination of the influencing factors reveals that the three stages of the green innovation system have quite diverse influencing factors. Further discussion reveals that Chinese green innovation productivity has increased by 39.85%, which is driven mainly by technology progress, and the increasing tendency of regional differences between northern and southern China should be paid attention to.Originality/valueThis study proposes an improved dynamic three-stage slacks-based measure (SBM) model that allows calculating output efficiency in some stages and input efficiency in the other stages with the application of SOCP approach. In order to capture productivity change, this study develops a GDMPI based on the DNSBM model. In practice, the efficiency of regional green innovation in China and the factors that influence each stage are examined.

Building innovative capacity in regional entrepreneurship and innovation (eco)systems: Startups versus incumbent firms

AbstractThis article studies how three sets of regional factors—knowledge, agglomeration, and openness—impact and interact differently with startups and incumbent firms in their innovative capacity building. Based on a large dataset of Chinese high‐tech firms, regression analysis shows that the speed of growing startup innovative capacity relies positively on regional knowledge stock and localization economies. In addition to regional knowledge stock, incumbent innovative capacity building benefits from urbanization economies and regional openness. Favorable regional factors, including the presence of universities and the clustering of knowledge‐intensive peers, also enable startups (but not incumbents) to leverage internal knowledge assets into their innovative capacity. The results suggest that it is not only the access to the external knowledge environment but also proactive endeavors to cross‐fertilize between internal and external knowledge that underlie the eco‐systemic nature of startup innovative capacity building.