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The Role of Knowledge Variety and Intensity for Regional Innovative Capability

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  • Tavassoli, Sam

    () (CSIR, Blekinge Inst of Technology)

  • Carbonara, Nunzia

    () (CSIR, Blekinge Inst of Technology)

Abstract

This paper analyses the effect of variety and intensity of knowledge on the innovative capability of regions. Employing data for Swedish functional regions, the paper tests the role of the variety (related and unrelated) and intensity of (i) internal knowledge generated within the region and also (ii) external knowledge networks flowing into the region in explaining regional innovative capability, as measured by patent applications. The empirical analysis provides robust evidence that both the variety and intensity of internal and external knowledge matter for regions’ innovative capability. When it comes to variety, related knowledge variety plays a superior role.

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  • Tavassoli, Sam & Carbonara, Nunzia, 2013. "The Role of Knowledge Variety and Intensity for Regional Innovative Capability," Working Papers 2013/01, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Department of Industrial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:bthcsi:2013-001
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    Cited by:

    1. Aarstad, Jarle & Kvitastein, Olav A. & Jakobsen, Stig-Erik, 2016. "Related and unrelated variety as regional drivers of enterprise productivity and innovation: A multilevel study," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(4), pages 844-856.
    2. Sam Tavassoli & Lars Bengtsson & Charlie Karlsson, 2017. "Strategic entrepreneurship and knowledge spillovers: spatial and aspatial perspectives," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 233-249, March.
    3. Anna A. Mikhaylova & Andrey S. Mikhaylov, 2016. "Re-distribution of knowledge for innovation around Russia," International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(1), pages 37-56.
    4. Koen Frenken, 2016. "A Complexity-Theoretic Perspective on Innovation Policy," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1619, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Aug 2016.
    5. De Noni, Ivan & Ganzaroli, Andrea & Orsi, Luigi, 2017. "The impact of intra- and inter-regional knowledge collaboration and technological variety on the knowledge productivity of European regions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 108-118.
    6. Tavassoli, Sam & Karlsson, Charlie, 2015. "Persistence of various types of innovation analyzed and explained," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(10), pages 1887-1901.
    7. Julie Elston & Sandy Chen & Alois Weidinger, 2016. "The role of informal capital on new venture formation and growth in China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 79-91, January.
    8. Johan Klaesson & Therese Norman, 2015. "Market potential and the employment growth of knowledge-intensive services: comparing different geographical resolutions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 55(1), pages 157-185, October.
    9. Ernest Miguélez & Rosina Moreno, 2016. "“Relatedness, external linkages and innovation”," IREA Working Papers 201603, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Apr 2016.
    10. Barra, Cristian & Zotti, Roberto, 2015. "Regional innovation system (in)efficiency and its determinants: an empirical evidence from Italian regions," MPRA Paper 67067, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Erik E. Lehmann & Matthias Menter, 2016. "University–industry collaboration and regional wealth," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(6), pages 1284-1307, December.
    12. Sam Tavassoli & Viroj Jienwatcharamongkhol, 2016. "Survival of entrepreneurial firms: the role of agglomeration externalities," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(9-10), pages 746-767, October.
    13. repec:eee:respol:v:47:y:2018:i:1:p:1-13 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Aarstad, Jarle & Kvitastein, Olav A. & Jakobsen, Stig-Erik, 2016. "Related and unrelated variety in a tourism context," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 254-256.
    15. Jingjing Liu & Peter Nijkamp, 2016. "Inbound tourism as a driving force of the regional innovation system: An impact study on China," ERSA conference papers ersa16p600, European Regional Science Association.
    16. repec:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1064-:d:139410 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Rune Dahl Fitjar & Bram Timmermans, 2017. "Knowledge bases and relatedness: A study of labour mobility in Norwegian regions," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1712, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jun 2017.
    18. repec:taf:eurpls:v:24:y:2016:i:12:p:2097-2112 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Timmermans, Bram & Fitjar, Rune Dahl, 2015. "Skill Relatedness in Norway by Bram Timmermans and Rune Dahl Fitjar," UiS Working Papers in Economics and Finance 2015/20, University of Stavanger.
    20. Jeroen Content & Koen Frenken, 2016. "Related variety and economic development: a literature review," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(12), pages 2097-2112, December.
    21. Michael Fritsch & Sandra Kublina, 2016. "Related Variety, Unrelated Variety, and Regional Growth: The Role of Absorptive Capacity and Entrepreneurship," Jena Economic Research Papers 2016-009, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    22. Wallin, Tina, 2017. "An empirical study of firms’ absorptive capacity and export diversification," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 452, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Knowledge intensity; Knowledge variety; Related variety; Unrelated variety; Internal knowledge; External knowledge; Patent applications; Functional regions;

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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