The innovating region: toward a theory of knowledge‐based regional development

Abstract

This paper sets forth a model of knowledge‐based regional development conceived as a set of multi‐linear dynamics, based on alternative technological paradigms. Utilizing longitudinal data from a Swedish region, and international comparisons, four stages of development are identified: Inception, Implementation, Consolidation and Renewal. Innovation policy is created ‘bottom‐up’ as an outcome of ‘collective entrepreneurship’ through collaboration among business, government and academic actors – the ‘triple helix’. The key event is the creation of an entrepreneurial university, whether from an existing academic base or a new foundation, which takes initiatives together with government and industry to create a support structure for firm formation and regional growth. The result of these initiatives is a self‐sustaining dynamic in which the role of academia and government appears to recede as industrial actors come to the fore and a lineage of firms is created. Nevertheless, as one technological paradigm is exhausted and another one is needed as the base for new economic activity, the role of academia and government comes to the fore again in creating the conditions for the next wave of innovation.

Making a humanities town: knowledge-infused clusters, civic entrepreneurship and civil society in local innovation systems

“…Regional innovation is reformulated from a single (business) to a dual (state/industry) focus to a triple helix configuration (Etzkowitz, 2008;Qian, Acs and Stough, 2012). Among the factors that encourage cluster growth are availability of government procurement funds to drive a learning curve (Lecuyer, 2007) and insertion in a supportive eco-system with venture capital, legal assistance and firms in related business fields (Lee et al 2000).…”

“…A progression may be identified from simple to integral to knowledge-infused clusters. Nevertheless, cluster development phases are non-linear and may occur in various orders, with reversal, expansion or contraction (Etzkowitz and Klofsten 2005): (1) Inception:…”

Complex regional innovation networks and HEI engagement - the case of Chicago

“…In networks, an innovation should not be seen as the product of one actor, but as the result of interplay between several actors (Håkansson, 1982). However, it is HEIs who most often have been seen as the key players in local innovation networks (see for instance Leydesdorff and Etzkowitz, 2001;Etzkowitz and Klofsten, 2005) and it is these actors who are our focal point.…”

L’identification collective d’opportunités

“…Pour d'autres, il s'agit plutôt de la création d'une entreprise par un groupe, par une équipe entrepreneuriale (Lounsbury, 1998 ;Reich, 1987). Finalement, d'autres encore l'entendent davantage dans le sens de « communauté entrepreneuriale » (Etzkowitz et Klofsten, 2005 ;Flora, 1998 ;Joyal, 2002). Or, la démarche sous-entendue dans un processus collectif d'identification d'opportunités ne constitue pas en soi un processus d'entrepreneuriat collectif, peu importe le sens qu'on lui donne.…”