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The Evolution Of Inventor Networks In The Silicon Valley And Boston Regions

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Author Info
LEE FLEMING () (Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
KOEN FRENKEN () (Urban and Regional Research Institute Utrecht (URU), Utrecht University, The Netherlands)

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Abstract

While networks are widely thought to enhance regional innovative capability, there exist few longitudinal studies of their formation and evolution over time. Based on an analysis of all patenting inventors in the U.S. from 1975 to 2002, we observe dramatic aggregation of the regional inventor network in Silicon Valley around 1989. Based on network statistics, we argue that the sudden rise of giant networks in Silicon Valley can be understood as a phase transition during which small isolated networks form one giant component. By contrast, such a transition in Boston occurred much later and much less dramatically. We do not find convincing evidence that this marked difference between the two regions is due to regional differences in the propensity to collaborate or the involvement of universities in patenting. Interviews with key network players suggest that contingent labor mobility between established firms in Silicon Valley, in particular resulting from IBM's policy as a central player in patenting activity, promoted inter-organizational networking, leading to larger inventor networks.

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Article provided by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. in its journal Advances in Complex Systems.

Volume (Year): 10 (2007)
Issue (Month): 01 ()
Pages: 53-71
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Handle: RePEc:wsi:acsxxx:v:10:y:2007:i:01:p:53-71

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Related research
Keywords: Inventor networks; inter-organizational collaboration;

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Rosenberg, Nathan, 1990. "Why do firms do basic research (with their own money)?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 165-174, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Cowan, Robin & Jonard, Nicolas, 2004. "Network structure and the diffusion of knowledge," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 28(8), pages 1557-1575, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  3. Kenney, Martin & von Burg, Urs, 1999. "Technology, Entrepreneurship and Path Dependence: Industrial Clustering in Silicon Valley and Route 128," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(1), pages 67-103, March.
  4. Stefano Breschi & Francesco Lissoni, 2003. "Mobility and Social Networks: Localised Knowledge Spillovers Revisited," CESPRI Working Papers 142, CESPRI, Centre for Research on Innovation and Internationalisation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy, revised Mar 2003. [Downloadable!]
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  1. Anne L. J. ter Wal, 2008. "Cluster emergence and network evolution A longitudinal analysis of the inventor network in Sophia-Antipolis," Documents de Travail de l'OFCE 2008-21, Observatoire Francais des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE). [Downloadable!]
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  2. Franz Tödtling & Michaela Trippl & Lukas Lengauer, 2008. "Towards Regional Knowledge Economies: Routes and Policy Options," SRE-Disc sre-disc-2008_05, Department of City and Regional Development, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. [Downloadable!]
  3. Jarno Hoekman & Koen Frenken & Frank Oort, 2009. "The geography of collaborative knowledge production in Europe," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 721-738, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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