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Bridging technologies in the regional knowledge space: measurement and evolution

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  • Stefano Basilico

    (Friedrich Schiller University Jena
    Gran Sasso Science Institute)

  • Holger Graf

    (Friedrich Schiller University Jena)

Abstract

Bridging Technologies connect otherwise unrelated fields in regional knowledge spaces. By establishing new connections between technologies, they enable technological development through processes of recombinant innovation. In this paper, we develop a set of indicators that help us to characterise technologies in terms of their bridging function and study their evolution over time. We apply these tools to the regional and national levels in Germany. Our findings indicate that large patenting regions are not necessarily the ones that embed most new technologies in their knowledge space. For the German knowledge space we find that during the past two decades, it became less dependent on prominent technologies, such as transport, machinery and chemicals. Changes in the German knowledge space in terms of the development of new bridging technologies can be attributed to a regionally dispersed process rather than one driven by single regions.

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  • Stefano Basilico & Holger Graf, 2023. "Bridging technologies in the regional knowledge space: measurement and evolution," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 1085-1124, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:33:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s00191-023-00832-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-023-00832-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefano Basilico & Uwe Cantner & Holger Graf, 2023. "Policy influence in the knowledge space: a regional application," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 591-622, April.
    2. Michael Klien & Michael Böheim & Matthias Firgo & Andreas Reinstaller & Peter Reschenhofer & Yvonne Wolfmayr, 2021. "Stärkung der Unabhängigkeit des Wirtschaftsstandortes Österreich bei kritischen Produkten," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 67234, February.
    3. Stefano Basilico & Nils Grashof, 2023. "The transition of brown regions: A matter of timing?," Jena Economics Research Papers 2023-003, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Knowledge spaces; Network analysis; Bridging technology; Revealed relatedness; GPT;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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