Ever since Schumpeter’s work on the business cycles, innovation is widely claimed to be a central aspect of economic development. With market expansion reaching its limits and mass production being relocated into low cost countries, the role of innovation gained more and more importance in order to maintain growth in western industrial countries. In contrast to the industrial processes, innovation is not a process, which can be standardised or routinised. It does not follow mathematically ascertainable schemes, but is rather a dynamic process, which is formed by several factors interacting and enforcing each other (Cooke and Morgan, 1998). The aim of this paper is to shed light on empirically determined factors that promote innovation in certain regions. Eventually some remarkable examples of innovative regions in Europe will underline and verify their importance.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Spatial aspects of innovation – Why innovations occur in clusters
2.1 Sharing of tacit knowledge
2.2 The role of metropolitan regions
2.3 Services and intermediaries
2.4 Systematic innovation and insitutional underpinnings
3 European high-tech regions as empirical evidence
3.1 The Cambridge Phenomenon
3.2 Munich – Leading high tech region in Germany
3.3 Baden Württemberg – A successful region facing challenges
3.4 Tampere – From resource-based to knowledge-based economy
3.5 Grenoble – France’s Leading edge technology center
4 Conclusion
Research Objective and Key Themes
This paper examines the empirically determined factors that drive innovation within specific European regions, highlighting how geographical and relational proximity facilitate the transmission of tacit knowledge and economic growth. The study explores the dynamics of metropolitan regions and institutional frameworks as catalysts for flourishing high-tech clusters.
- The role of tacit knowledge in local innovation processes
- The importance of metropolitan regions as nexuses for knowledge spillovers
- The function of intermediaries and institutional support in regional development
- Empirical case studies of European high-tech hubs (Cambridge, Munich, Baden-Württemberg, Tampere, Grenoble)
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Sharing of tacit knowledge
As a result of technological progress, information and knowledge from all over the world is virtually available everywhere, but still, with the sector of long distance business travel growing steadily, there must be reason for seeing each other (Storper and Venables, 2005). In this context it is important to highlight, that different kinds of knowledge do exist and that this is only the case for codified or explicit knowledge. On the other hand, there is knowledge, which is not codified yet or nearly impossible to be codified, the tacit knowledge (Kujath, 2009).
Skills can hardly be transported by description and certain knowledge cannot be articulated due to inadequacies of language. Some skills simply cannot be transported from one individual to another with explaining, but rather need to be shown. Exemplarily the master-apprentice-principle with observation, imitation, correction and repetition seems to be the way to go (Nonaka, 1991). Lundvall et al describe it as a process of doing-using-interacting (DUI) in a community with skilled people (Lundvall et al., 2007). Figure 1 shows the principles of the learning processes. Consequently one can say, that codified knowledge is global and tacit knowledge is local. Learning certain values follows the same principle. They need to be learned and internalised and they are crucial in order to act as member of a community and gain knowledge from it. Sometimes even the skilled worker him or herself might not know about his or her skills to the full extend. So the tacit knowledge might not even be obvious (Takeuchi and Nonaka, 1995). Thus it is not easily shared and therefore a rare good, which is important for success (Gertler, 2007).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the study, emphasizing that innovation is a dynamic, non-standardized process central to modern economic development.
2 Spatial aspects of innovation – Why innovations occur in clusters: This section investigates why proximity is a precondition for sharing tacit knowledge and how metropolitan regions serve as nexuses for innovation through specialized labor and institutional support.
3 European high-tech regions as empirical evidence: This chapter provides case studies of successful European regions, analyzing how local institutions and historical contexts have fostered high-tech environments.
4 Conclusion: The summary highlights that while regional clusters are crucial, they are susceptible to path dependency and must continually reinvent themselves to sustain long-term economic competitiveness.
Keywords
Innovation, Clusters, Tacit Knowledge, Metropolitan Regions, Knowledge Spillovers, High-tech, Regional Innovation Systems, Intermediaries, Path Dependency, Cambridge Phenomenon, Munich, Baden-Württemberg, Tampere, Grenoble, Economic Geography
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the geographical and institutional factors that drive innovation within specific high-tech regions across Europe.
What are the core themes explored in this paper?
The core themes include the importance of proximity in knowledge sharing, the role of metropolitan functions, the necessity of intermediaries, and the challenges of institutional support for innovation.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to identify empirically determined factors that promote regional innovation and to verify their importance through successful European examples.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a qualitative comparative approach, analyzing existing empirical studies and specific regional case studies to draw conclusions about innovation drivers.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the theoretical underpinnings of innovation clusters, the role of tacit knowledge, institutional frameworks, and detailed examinations of regions like Cambridge, Munich, and Tampere.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Innovation, Clusters, Tacit Knowledge, Metropolitan Regions, Regional Innovation Systems, and Path Dependency.
How does the author define the "Cambridge Phenomenon"?
The author describes it as the successful transformation of the Cambridge region into a major high-tech hub, driven by the local University, strategic financial decisions, and a spirit of collaboration.
What role do institutions like Max-Planck-Institutes play in Munich?
They provide the necessary research infrastructure and funding, creating a specialized labor market and a fertile environment for innovation in the Munich region.
Why does the author argue that Baden-Württemberg faces challenges?
Because the region is heavily dependent on traditional automotive and machinery sectors, it faces path dependency risks and must successfully transition to new technologies to remain innovative.
- Arbeit zitieren
- M Sc Geography Björn Linnemann (Autor:in), 2010, Innovation Regions in Europe, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/198589
