IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/regstd/v33y1999i6p529-540.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Innovative Linkages and Proximity: Empirical Results from Recent Surveys of Small and Medium Sized Firms in German Regions

Author

Listed:
  • Rolf Sternberg

Abstract

STERNBERG R. (1999) Innovative linkages and proximity: empirical results from recent surveys of small and medium sized firms in German regions, Reg. Studies 33 , 529-540. Recent theoretical discussion about modern approaches to explaining knowledge-based regional development in terms of industrial district, innovative milieu and network hypotheses emphasizes the importance of intraregional linkages between innovative actors. Among these, innovative firms and research institutions are regarded as most important for influencing regional economic development by intraregional linkages. This paper supplies databased research by analysing several comprehensive surveys in three German regions. It focuses on the role that spatial proximity of partners plays in the establishment of innovative linkages between manufacturing SMEs and other actors, such as research institutions, customers and suppliers. The results in general confirm the hypothesis of strong and increasing intraregional linkages between innovative actors. However, some of the empirical findings regarding industrial districts like Baden do surprise. STERNBERG R. (1999)Innovation maillee et proximite: des resultats empiriques provenant des enquetes recentes aupres des Petites et moyennes entreprises situees dans les regions d'Allemagne, Reg. Studies 33 , 529-540. Le debat theorique recent sur les facons d'expliquer, de nos jours, le developpement regional fonde sur les connaissances a partir des hypotheses sur les zones industrielles, les technopoleset les reseaux, souligne l'importance d'un maillage intraregional des acteurs de l'innovation. Dont les entreprises innovatrices et les instituts de recherche s'averent les plus importants pour le developpement economique regional a partir des maillages intraregionaux. Cet article fournit des resultats empiriques provenant de plusieurs enquetes detaillees menees dans trois regionsd'Allemagne. Il porte sur le role que joue l'aproximite spatiale des partenaires dans le tissage de l'innovation maillee entre Pmi et autres acteurs, tels les instituts de recherche, les clients et les fournisseurs. En general, les resultats viennent a l'appui de l'hypothese de maillages intraregionaux forts et croissants entre les acteurs de l'innovation. Toujours estil que certains des resultats empiriques relatifs aux zones industrielles, Baden par exemple, sont etonnants. STERNBERG R. (1999) Innovative Verflechtungen und raumliche Nahe: Empirische Ergebnisse jungerer Untersuchungen kleiner und mittel grosser Unternehmen (KMU) in deutschen Regionen, Reg. Studies 33 , 529-540. Aktuelle Erklarungsansatze wissensbasierter Regionalentwicklung wie der Industriedistriktansatz, die innovativen Milieus oder die Netzwerkhypothese betonen die Bedeutung intraregionaler Netzwerke von Innovationsakteuren. Dabei werden innovative Unternehmen und Forschungseinrichtungen zu den wichtigsten Innovationsakteuren gezahlt, sofern es um den Einfluss intraregionaler Verflechtungen auf Regionalentwicklung geht. Der Beitrag basiert auf umfangreichen Erhebungen in drei deutschen Regionen. Er konzentriert sichauf dieRolle, diedieraumliche Nahevon Kooperationspartnern fur die Entwicklung von innovativen Verflechtungen zwischen KMU des Verarbeitenden Gewerbes und anderenPartnertypen wie Forschungseinrichtungen, Kunden oder Zulieferern spielt. Die Ergebnisse bestatigen im wesentlichen die Hypothese einer starken und zunehmenden Bedeutung intraregionaler Verflechtungen zwischen den Innovationsakteuren. Allerdings uberraschen manche der empirischen Resultate, beispielsweiseim Zusammenhang mit dem vermeintlichen Industriedistrikt Baden.

Suggested Citation

  • Rolf Sternberg, 1999. "Innovative Linkages and Proximity: Empirical Results from Recent Surveys of Small and Medium Sized Firms in German Regions," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(6), pages 529-540.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:33:y:1999:i:6:p:529-540
    DOI: 10.1080/00343409950078224
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00343409950078224
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/00343409950078224?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kelley, Maryellen R. & Arora, Ashish, 1996. "The role of institution-building in US industrial modernization programs," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 265-279, March.
    2. Bjørn T. Asheim, 2007. "Industrial Districts as ‘Learning Regions’: A Condition for Prosperity," Chapters, in: Roel Rutten & Frans Boekema (ed.), The Learning Region, chapter 4, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Casper, Steven, 1996. "The development of decentralized supplier networks in East Germany: a challenge to the German model of industrial organization," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Economic Change and Employment FS I 96-322, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    4. Audretsch, David B & Feldman, Maryann P, 1996. "R&D Spillovers and the Geography of Innovation and Production," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(3), pages 630-640, June.
    5. Ostgaard, Tone A. & Birley, Sue, 1994. "Personal networks and firm competitive strategy--A strategic or coincidental match?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 281-305, July.
    6. Reinhold Grotz & Boris Braun, 1997. "Territorial or Trans-territorial Networking: Spatial Aspects of Technology-oriented Cooperation within the German Mechanical Engineering Industry," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 545-557.
    7. Almeida, Paul & Kogut, Bruce, 1997. "The Exploration of Technological Diversity and the Geographic Localization of Innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 21-31, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rosina Moreno & Ernest Miguélez, 2012. "A Relational Approach To The Geography Of Innovation: A Typology Of Regions," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 492-516, July.
    2. Nicole Litzel & Joachim Möller, 2011. "Industrial Clusters and Economic Integration: Theoretic Concepts and an Application to the European Metropolitan Region Nuremberg," Chapters, in: Miroslav N. Jovanović (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Integration, Volume II, chapter 12, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Nola Hewitt-Dundas, 2013. "The role of proximity in university-business cooperation for innovation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 93-115, April.
    4. Feldman, Maryann P. & Kogler, Dieter F., 2010. "Stylized Facts in the Geography of Innovation," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 381-410, Elsevier.
    5. Foray, Dominique & Lissoni, Francesco, 2010. "University Research and Public–Private Interaction," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 275-314, Elsevier.
    6. Rafael Boix & José Luis Hervás-Oliver & Blanca De Miguel-Molina, 2013. "“I want creative neighbours”. Do creative service industries spillovers cross regional boundaries?," Working Papers 1315, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
    7. Walter Powell & Kenneth Koput & James Bowie & Laurel Smith-Doerr, 2002. "The Spatial Clustering of Science and Capital: Accounting for Biotech Firm-Venture Capital Relationships," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 291-305.
    8. Filip De Beule & Ilke Van Beveren, 2008. "Product innovation and renewal: foreign firms and clusters in Belgium," LICOS Discussion Papers 22709, LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KU Leuven.
    9. Breschi, Stefano & Lissoni, Francesco, 2001. "Knowledge Spillovers and Local Innovation Systems: A Critical Survey," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 10(4), pages 975-1005, December.
    10. Fiorenza Belussi & Silvia R. Sedita, 2012. "Industrial Districts as Open Learning Systems: Combining Emergent and Deliberate Knowledge Structures," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(2), pages 165-184, April.
    11. Schudy, Simeon, 2006. "Jüngere Entwicklungen auf dem Risikokapitalmarkt für Biotechnologie in Deutschland," Kiel Working Papers 1270, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    12. Christoph Grimpe & Roberto Patuelli, 2011. "Regional knowledge production in nanomaterials: a spatial filtering approach," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 46(3), pages 519-541, June.
    13. Corinne Autant-Bernard & Pascal Billand & Nadine Massard, 2012. "Innovation and Space – From Externalities to Networks," Chapters, in: Charlie Karlsson & Börje Johansson & Roger R. Stough (ed.), The Regional Economics of Knowledge and Talent, chapter 3, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    14. Dettmann, Eva & Lacasa, Iciar Dominguez & Guenther, Jutta & Jindra, Bjorn, 2014. "Детерминанты Зарубежной Технологической Активности В Германии - Количественный Анализ Транснациональных Патентов [Determinants of Foreign Technological Activity in German Regions - A Count Model An," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 34-51.
    15. Irfan Kaygalak & Neil Reid, 2016. "Innovation and knowledge spillovers in Turkey: The role of geographic and organizational proximity," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(1-2), pages 45-60, March.
    16. Gilbert, Brett Anitra & McDougall, Patricia P. & Audretsch, David B., 2008. "Clusters, knowledge spillovers and new venture performance: An empirical examination," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 405-422, July.
    17. Thomas Doring & Jan Schnellenbach, 2006. "What do we know about geographical knowledge spillovers and regional growth?: A survey of the literature," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 375-395.
    18. Oerlemans, Leon A.G. & Meeus, Marius T.H., 2002. "Spatial embeddedness and firm performance: an empirical exploration of the effects of proximity on innovative and economic performance," ERSA conference papers ersa02p054, European Regional Science Association.
    19. Dettmann, Eva & Dominguez Lacasa, Iciar & Günther, Jutta & Jindra, Björn, 2013. "Determinants of Foreign Technological Activity in German Regions – A Count Model Analysis of Transnational Patents (1996-2009)," IWH Discussion Papers 12/2013, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    20. Nina Czernich, 2011. "The emergence of broadband internet and consequences for economic and social development," ifo Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 37.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:33:y:1999:i:6:p:529-540. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/CRES20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.