European Regional Science Association
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European Regional Science Association
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The abstract for paper number 244:
Miika Varis, University of Kuopio, Department of Business and Management, Kuopio, Finland
Knowledge, innovations, and the development of spatially bounded techno-economic systems: A glance at some theoretical discussions
Local systems of production and innovation have been the focus of many theoretical discussions during the past two decades. Especially the past few years have witnessed a growing interest towards the study of innovation processes within these systems. Innovations are understood as the primary mechanism through which the techno-economic change may take place, and thus also the main source of economic growth and development. On the other hand, it has been argued that in the era of “knowledge-intensive economy”, knowledge has become the most important factor of production, and therefore the main determinant of economic success at all levels. Against this background it is understandable that knowledge, along with its relation to the process of innovation, has attracted much research interest recently.
The central theme of this paper is the complex relationship between knowledge and innovation in localized innovation systems. This paper aims at providing a survey, by no means comprehensive, of the literature dealing with the relationship between knowledge, innovations and the development of localized systems. The paper is organized as follows. First, it introduces the reader to some basic concepts and issues that are central to understanding the topic. The study continues with a closer examination of the nature, spatial dimension and interdependencies of knowledge and innovation. Particular emphasis is laid on the different forms of knowledge and their possible impact on the process of innovation. The paper concludes by summarizing some of the central findings of the discussion and pointing to some possible directions for future research activities.
Unfortunately full paper has not been submitted.