Knowledge composition, Jacobs externalities and innovation performance in European regions

Abstract

Knowledge composition, Jacobs externalities and innovation performance in European regions. Regional Studies. This paper analyses the role of the composition of the regional stock of knowledge in explaining innovation performance. It provides three main contributions. First, it investigates the relevance of Jacobs knowledge externalities in characterizing the technological capabilities at the regional level. Second, it applies the Hidalgo–Hausmann (HH) methodology to analyze knowledge composition by looking at patent data of 214 regions, located in 27 state members of the European Union during the years 1994–2008. Third, it econometrically assesses the role of knowledge base composition in a knowledge-generation function. The results of the empirical analysis confirm that the characterization of the regional knowledge base through the HH indicators provides interesting information to understanding its composition and to qualify it as a provider of the Jacobs knowledge externalities that account for the dynamics of regional innovative performance

High-growth entrepreneurship in a developing country: Regional systems or stochastic process?

“…A complementary perspective is offered through the analysis of knowledge stock as an ingredient of innovative activities in regions. Antonelli et al (2016) verify that patent data can supply a valuable indicator in predicting innovation throughout regions in Europe. This is because patents -and their representation of available knowledge -functions as an external source of available knowledge and localized specialization for firms and individuals (Antonelli & Colombelli, 2015).…”

“…Empirical work concerning regional and urban systems of innovation in this respect provides mixed outcomes (Qian et al, 2013), even though positive effects in terms of entrepreneurship are more strongly connected to Jacobs' propositions (Beaudry & Schiffauerova, 2009;Li et al, 2016). This is a function of the evidence presenting that excessive industrial specialization can be detrimental to long-run growth (Antonelli et al, 2016;Beaudry & Schiffauerova, 2009;Stangler & Bell-Masterson, 2015). This can be attributed to the strategic relevance of complementary economic activities and the significant contributions they offer for start-ups (Cooke, 2016;Delgado et al, 2010;Glaeser & Kerr, 2009).…”

Knowledge Spillover Effects: Impact of Export Learning Effects on Companies’ Innovative Activities

“…Apart from exports, there are other factors influencing innovational learning processes and development. In particular, "the industry to which an enterprise belongs and its size may affect propensity to innovate and implement new management technologies" [27]. An enterprise's innovation activity may be also associated with the age of the firm and characteristics of its owner (affiliation with a foreign holding company) [17,20,28].…”

“…Table 3). To eliminate the endogeneity problems "associated with the different direction of the cause-and-effect relationships between the size indicators and property parameters, the values of these predictors in the model are taken for the previous period" [27]. An attempt to use a linear regression to predict innovation activity of enterprises after entry into a foreign market does not make sense, as the linear form values are on a continuous quantitative scale, while the variable is measured discreetly [44].…”

“…Jacobs inter-sectoral effects occur between companies belonging to different sectors: knowledge flows occur between complementary sectors of industry or suppliers and customers [27]. It is not clustering but the diversity of industries that triggers mutual, cross-enriching spillovers: movement, flow of ideas, techniques, tools to other industries lead to their different, completely new application, and, accordingly, to a different result, end product [28].…”