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Effects of the Internet on the spatial structure of innovation networks

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  • Kaufmann, A.
  • Lehner, P.
  • Todtling, F.

Abstract

Research on innovation systems and innovative milieux has shown that the innovation process of companies is strongly interrelated with other firms and organisations. Internet is a new information and communication technology with a considerable potential to change such relationships and networks. An often held expectation is that the Internet will allow firms to interact with distant partners more easily and that as a consequence innovation networks become independent from geographical space. A contrasting view argues that local and regional networks and innovation systems will keep their importance, due to the fact that tacit knowledge, face to face communication and institutional factors are still of key relevance. In the paper we are going to investigate to which extent and how the Internet changes innovation network of companies. Do firms using the Internet intensively have other innovation partners at wider spatial scales than firms which hardly use this communication technology? We have analysed the effects of the Internet on the innovation-related knowledge flows of firms by conducting a telephone survey, personal interviews and a WWW-survey of Austrian firms. Preliminary analysis shows that there is significant variance between firms depending on the relative importance of different types of knowledge communicated and the type of firm (e.g., science-based firms versus traditional manufacturing firms). Overall, there is evidence that the Internet made relations to innovation partners more efficient. However, the configuration of networks (types and location of partners) did not change as much as is often expected in the literature.
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  • Kaufmann, A. & Lehner, P. & Todtling, F., 2003. "Effects of the Internet on the spatial structure of innovation networks," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 402-424, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:15:y:2003:i:3:p:402-424
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    4. Cowan, Robin & Jonard, Nicolas, 2004. "Information Technology and the Dynamics of Joint Innovation," Research Memorandum 014, Maastricht University, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    5. Frank M. Fossen & Thorsten Martin, 2016. "Entrepreneurial Spillovers over Space and Time," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1618, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. Heidi Wiig Aslesen & Roman Martin & Stefania Sardo, 2019. "The virtual is reality! On physical and virtual space in software firms’ knowledge formation," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(9-10), pages 669-682, October.
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    8. Steiner, Bodo & Ali, Jolene, 2009. "Regional food clusters and government support for clustering: Evidence for a ‘dynamic food innovation cluster’ in Alberta, Canada?," MPRA Paper 26251, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    10. Fossen, Frank M. & Martin, Thorsten, 2018. "Entrepreneurial dynamics over space and time," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 204-214.
    11. Tödtling, Franz & Lehner, Patrick & Trippl, Michaela, 2004. "Knowledge intensive industries, networks, and collective learning," SRE-Discussion Papers 2004/02, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    12. Franz Toedtling & Patrick Lehner, 2006. "Do Different Types of Innovation Require Specific Kinds of Knowledge Links?," ERSA conference papers ersa06p513, European Regional Science Association.
    13. Nabaz T. Khayyat & Jeong-Dong Lee, 2012. "A New Index Measure of Technological Capabilities for Developing Countries," TEMEP Discussion Papers 201291, Seoul National University; Technology Management, Economics, and Policy Program (TEMEP), revised Jun 2012.
    14. Mercy Escalante-Ludena, 2006. "Innovation Networks in the Learning Economy," ERSA conference papers ersa06p881, European Regional Science Association.
    15. Khayyat, Nabaz T. & Lee, Jeong-Dong, 2015. "A measure of technological capabilities for developing countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 210-223.
    16. Harald Bathelt & Andrew Munro & Ben Spigel, 2011. "Challenges of Transformation: Innovation, Re-bundling and Traditional Manufacturing in Canada's Technology Triangle," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1111, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jun 2011.
    17. Paul Haynes & Alessandra Vecchi & James Wickham, 2006. "Flying around the globe and bringing business back home?," The Institute for International Integration Studies Discussion Paper Series iiisdp173, IIIS.
    18. Hanjin Xie & Xi Tan & Jun Li & Shuang Qu & Chunmei Yang, 2023. "Does Information Infrastructure Promote Low-Carbon Development? Evidence from the “Broadband China” Pilot Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-21, January.
    19. Galaso, Pablo & Kovářík, Jaromír, 2018. "Collaboration Networks and Innovation: How to Define Network Boundaries," MPRA Paper 85108, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Patricia Hemert & Peter Nijkamp & Enno Masurel, 2013. "From innovation to commercialization through networks and agglomerations: analysis of sources of innovation, innovation capabilities and performance of Dutch SMEs," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 50(2), pages 425-452, April.
    21. Tödtling, Franz & Lehner, Patrick & Kaufmann, Alexander, 2008. "Do different types of innovation rely on specific kinds of knowledge interactions?," SRE-Discussion Papers 2008/01, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    22. Wen, Jun & Zhao, Xinxin & Fu, Qiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2023. "The impact of financial risk on green innovation: Global evidence," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    23. Yang, Mengjun & Zheng, Shilin & Zhou, Lin, 2022. "Broadband internet and enterprise innovation," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

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