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Juggling with Proximity and Distance: Collaborative Innovation Projects in the Danish Cleantech Industry

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  • Teis Hansen

Abstract

Studies increasingly apply a multidimensional proximity framework in the analysis of collaborations between actors. This article explores the influence of collaboration motives on the desired proximity characteristics of partnerships in innovation projects based on 50 interviews with representatives from Danish cleantech firms. How search criteria along proximity dimensions differ depends on the purposes of the collaborations. In this way, the analysis distinguishes between the types of collaboration, where geographical proximity is considered highly important and those where geographically distant partners are preferred. Geographical proximity plays an important role in partnerships motivated by interaction around actual product development and knowledge creation, while long-distance relationships appear to be important for partnerships motivated by market access and cost considerations. The insight that the desired proximity characteristics of partnerships are indeed contingent on the motive for collaborating highlights how the proximity framework can be applied in the analysis of firm decision making.

Suggested Citation

  • Teis Hansen, 2014. "Juggling with Proximity and Distance: Collaborative Innovation Projects in the Danish Cleantech Industry," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 90(4), pages 375-402, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:recgxx:v:90:y:2014:i:4:p:375-402
    DOI: 10.1111/ecge.12057
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    Cited by:

    1. Giancarlo Giudici & Massimiliano Guerini & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2019. "The creation of cleantech startups at the local level: the role of knowledge availability and environmental awareness," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 815-830, April.
    2. Kristina Jespersen & Damiana Rigamonti & Morten Berg Jensen & Rune Bysted, 2018. "Analysis of SMEs partner proximity preferences for process innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 879-904, December.
    3. Grillitsch, Markus & Hansen, Teis, 2018. "Green industrial path development in different types of regions," Papers in Innovation Studies 2018/11, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    4. Xin Ma & Tao Huang, 2024. "Proximity still matters in research collaboration! Evidence from the introduction of new airline routes and high-speed railways in China," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(4), pages 2227-2253, April.
    5. Roberta Capello & Camilla Lenzi, 2018. "The dynamics of regional learning paradigms and trajectories," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 727-748, September.
    6. Mei Han & Bilin Xu, 2021. "Distance with Customers Effects on Green Product Innovation in SMEs: A Way Through Green Value Co-creation," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, December.
    7. Tsouri, Maria & Hansen, Teis & Hanson, Jens & Steen, Markus, 2022. "Knowledge recombination for emerging technological innovations: The case of green shipping," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    8. Xing Gao & Keyu Zhai & Yue Qiu & Mengqiu Cao & Meiling Wu, 2020. "Innovation Institution and Spatial Transfer of Energy Industry: The Case of Jiangsu Province, China," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440199, January.
    9. Maté-Sánchez-Val, Mariluz & Harris, Richard, 2018. "The paradox of geographical proximity for innovators: A regional study of the Spanish agri-food sector," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 458-467.
    10. Ron Boschma, 2017. "A concise history of the knowledge base literature: challenging questions for future research," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1721, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Sep 2017.
    11. Robert Davtyan & Wojciech Piotrowicz, 2021. "Cleantech: State of the Art and Implications for Public Procurement," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 19(3 (Fall)), pages 185-207.
    12. Lorenzo Ardito & Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli & Federica Pascucci & Enzo Peruffo, 2019. "Inter‐firm R&D collaborations and green innovation value: The role of family firms' involvement and the moderating effects of proximity dimensions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 185-197, January.
    13. Marra, Alessandro & Antonelli, Paola & Dell’Anna, Luca & Pozzi, Cesare, 2015. "A network analysis using metadata to investigate innovation in clean-tech – Implications for energy policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 17-26.
    14. Rune Dahl Fitjar & Franz Huber & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2016. "Not too close, not too far: testing the Goldilocks principle of ‘optimal’ distance in innovation networks," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(6), pages 465-487, August.
    15. Philip Roth & Jannika Mattes, 2023. "Distance creates proximity: Unraveling the influence of geographical distance on social proximity in interorganizational collaborations," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 55(6), pages 1372-1391, September.
    16. Mei Han & Guoliang Feng & Xinyue Liu, 2025. "Optimizing Nonspatial Proximity to Increase Green Technological Innovation in Manufacturing," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, November.
    17. Metawa, Noura & Dogan, Eyup & Taskin, Dilvin, 2022. "Analyzing the nexus of green economy, clean and financial technology," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 385-396.
    18. Mei Han & Bilin Xu, 2024. "Examining Cognitive and Social Proximities’ Influence on Cluster Firms’ Green Technological Innovation," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, June.

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