Regional Knowledge Research Articles

Foreign knowledge sources and innovation: Differences across large and small and medium-size multinational enterprises (MNEs)

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) can take advantage of cross-border knowledge sourcing and internationalisation spillovers. Nevertheless, the influence of these two foreign knowledge sources on innovation has been scarcely analysed in the MNEs. The purpose of this paper is three-fold. First, to apply multilevel modelling in the study of MNEs' innovation. Second, to analyse how the region's foreign knowledge sources affect innovation based on R&D in MNEs. Third, to explore whether this influence differs between large and small and medium-size MNEs (SM-MNEs). We used multilevel panel data analysis in a sample of 1471 Spanish MNEs over the period 2009 to 2016. The results indicate that the firm-level factors have a stronger relationship with the propensity to innovate in MNEs than the region's foreign knowledge sources. Nevertheless, the effect of these region's knowledge sources in explaining the differences across MNEs in innovation is more substantive in large MNEs than in SM-MNEs.

Management of Regional Knowledge: Knowledge Flows Among University, Industry, and Government

The purpose of this paper is to study the process of knowledge creation and management in a geographic region, highlighting the knowledge flow through university–industry–government collaboration. The knowledge flow is analyzed from the perspective of the SECI model (socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization), developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi and of the triple helix concept, applied to the region knowledge theory. An analysis of the literature has been conducted in order to establish testable relationships between theories of knowledge management (KM), triple helix (TH) model, and regional knowledge (RK). A conceptual model that integrates theories of KM, TH, and RK represents a valuable framework to stimulate knowledge production and innovation through university–industry–government cooperation and collaboration in geographic regions. The knowledge economy needs to stimulate innovation and sustainable development. As it depends on knowledge, the study is justified as it suggests a new framework for knowledge production and innovation in regions, emphasizing the collaboration and interaction among players in order to consolidate the synergy as in a knowledge production chain.

Knowledge, diversity and entrepreneurship: a spatial analysis of new firm formation in Great Britain

This paper argues that the diversity of a region's knowledge stock and its balance between knowledge-based manufacturing and services are both important determinants of variations in the rate of new business formation across spatial areas. An empirical study of new firm formation across 408 local unitary authorities and districts in Great Britain over the period 2001–2007 is presented, taking explicit account of the interactions amongst spatial units through an econometric modelling procedure involving maximum likelihood spatial models and alternative spatial weighing matrices. The results indicate that both related and unrelated knowledge diversity have a positive impact on the rate of business formation, whilst aggregate local economy-wide industrial and ethnic diversity has no impact; the division of the knowledge stock between services and manufacturing is also significant, with services having a positive impact on new business formation in contrast to a negative impact for high-technology manufacturing. There is also some support for the view that low wages and economic inactivity constrain new business formation, whilst a competitive regional environment has a positive impact. The results imply that polices should be aimed at creating a diverse set of knowledge-based industries rather than specialization in a narrow range.

Knowledge Networks as a Regional Development Resource: A Network Analysis of the Interlinks between Scientific Institutions and Regional Firms in the Metropolitan region of Hanover, Germany

The debate on regional innovation potentials has concentrated in recent times upon the topic of regional knowledge networking. This article presents the findings of the first phase of a detailed network analysis of the cooperation relations between scientific institutions and firms in the “metropolitan region Hanover-Brunswick-Göttingen”. The research concentrated on the regional and supra-regional cooperation relations of approximately 500 science establishments of the region, including their interlinks with private sector firms. This analysis of a polycentric metropolitan region's knowledge networks in different fields of competence produced detailed information on the density of knowledge interlinking within the region, on the degree of connectivity between the region's scientific institutions and private sector firms, and on central network nodes within the regional innovation networks. The case study exemplifies the methodical approach of a regional network analysis and emphasizes the role of knowledge networks as a development resource which is of particular relevance to the region's innovation capacities.

University knowledge production and industrial innovation: the evidence

Universities can have the largest impact on regional economic growth by excelling in advanced research and by augmenting the region's stock of human capital. The combination of growth in the stocks of knowledge and human capital offer increasing returns in the region's knowledge production system and in the commercialisation of inventions. A survey of high technology company executives suggests that high-tech firms are drawn to quality university environments in order to gain better access to graduating students and to faculty research. An argument is presented to show that basic science research at universities is taking on added significance in the regional economic growth process, rather than being rendered obsolete by the shift in the loci of advanced research towards private research centres, corporate R&D, research hospitals, government laboratories and think tanks.