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The Role of Knowledge Intermediaries in Developing Firm Learning Capabilities

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  • Rachel Parker
  • Damian Hine

Abstract

Regional innovation systems (RISs) literature has emphasized the critical role of interactive learning and knowledge exchange amongst firms and a variety of spatially connected innovation institutions as the foundation of regional innovation. Knowledge intermediaries have been analysed in terms of the technology-transaction services they provide firms and/or knowledge producers such as universities and therefore the role they play in facilitating interaction within the RIS. However, innovation also depends on the capability of the firm to learn. Some studies have suggested that intermediaries also play a role in that regard as participation in intermediary knowledge transfer programmes can contribute to the development of firm capabilities for problem-solving and learning. Our research is based on two case study intermediary programmes involving interviews with facilitators and participants. Our data show that knowledge intermediaries affect organizational learning capabilities by impacting on firms' network relationships, internal and external communication channels and internal learning processes which in turn affect the ability to interpret and use knowledge within the firm. This suggests that the role of knowledge intermediaries might be greater than facilitating interactions in the innovation system, as knowledge intermediation may affect the ability of firms to learn and absorb knowledge from their environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Parker & Damian Hine, 2014. "The Role of Knowledge Intermediaries in Developing Firm Learning Capabilities," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(5), pages 1048-1061, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:22:y:2014:i:5:p:1048-1061
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2012.758688
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    Cited by:

    1. Doloreux, David & Turkina, Ekaterina, 2023. "Intermediaries in regional innovation systems: An historical event-based analysis applied to AI industry in Montreal," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    2. Howells, Jeremy, 2024. "Innovation intermediaries in a digital paradigm: A theoretical perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Thomas Brekke, 2021. "What Do We Know about the University Contribution to Regional Economic Development? A Conceptual Framework," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 44(2), pages 229-261, March.
    4. Dominique Lepore & Niccolò Testi & Edna Pasher, 2023. "Building Inclusive Smart Cities through Innovation Intermediaries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Daniel Feser, 2023. "Innovation intermediaries revised: a systematic literature review on innovation intermediaries’ role for knowledge sharing," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 1827-1862, July.

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