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Inventors and the Geographical Breadth of Knowledge Spillovers

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  • Giuri, Paola
  • Mariani, Myriam

Abstract

This paper studies the geographical breadth of knowledge spillovers. Previous research suggests that knowledge spillovers benefit from geographical proximity in technologically active and rich regions more than elsewhere. An alternative view explains the geographical breadth of knowledge spillovers as a function of the characteristics and personal networks of the individuals. We test these two competing theories by using information provided directly by the inventors of 6,750 European patents (PatVal-EU survey). Our results confirm the importance of inventors' personal background. However, compared to previous research, we find that the level of education of the inventors is key in shaping the geographical breadth of knowledge spillovers. Highly educated inventors rely more on geographically wide research networks than their less educated peers. This holds after controlling for the mobility of the inventors and for the scientific nature of the research performed. Differently, location matters only in the very rare regions in Europe that perform the bulk of the research in the specific discipline of the inventors.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuri, Paola & Mariani, Myriam, 2008. "Inventors and the Geographical Breadth of Knowledge Spillovers," Papers DYNREG31, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:esr:wpaper:dynreg31
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    Cited by:

    1. Anders Brostrom & Maureen McKelvey & Christian Sandstrom, 2009. "Investing in Localized Relationships with Universities: What are the Benefits for R&D Subsidiaries of Multinational Enterprises?," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 59-78.
    2. Pavla Žížalová, 2009. "Geography of Knowledge-based Collaboration in a Post-communist Country: Specific Experience or Generalized Pattern?," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(5), pages 791-814, February.
    3. Olivier Bouba-Olga & Marie Ferru, 2012. "Does Geographical Proximity Still Matter?," Working Papers hal-00725073, HAL.
    4. Broström, Anders, 2010. "Working with distant researchers--Distance and content in university-industry interaction," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 1311-1320, December.
    5. Katharina Frosch, 2009. "Do only new brooms sweep clean? A review on workforce age and innovation," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2009-005, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    education/geography/inventors/knowledge spillovers/patents;

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • R19 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Other

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