Abstract
The knowledge economy presents an essential challenge for regional innovation systems, which are modemizing or renewing themselves. The main focus in knowledge-driven innovation systems is on the organizational change in innovation activities as well as on general structural shifts within the system, which are linked to the ever intensifying intemational division of labor and growing knowledge basis of economic and industrial activities (Miles, 2003). Closely bound to these structural shifts are new forms of knowledge generation, knowledge transfer, and the activation of new, respectively unexploited technology and knowledge potentials. At least in mature economies, structural change shows service-oriented traits and is characterized by knowledge orientation and an increasing role of new firm formation in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). Thus, in the last decades a dynamic development can be observed in this economic field (cf Kerst, 1997). These developments combine several sub-trends - shifts in the management philosophy (e.g. trends towards ‘leaner’ firms, outsourcing of functions, and towards a greater emphasis on customer relationships), structural shifts in the composition of demand, and unevenness in the application of new technologies to product and process innovafion (Illeris, 1996; Miles, 2000; Tether, 2003).
We are particularly indebted to the firm founders spending their time for answering our questions. Without the grant of the German Research Foundation for the project “The foundation of knowledge-intensive business services in the context of industrial core regions: a comparative analysis in a regional economic perspective” the present contribution would not have been possible. We also thank two anonymous referees for their valuable comments.
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Koschatzky, K., Stahlecker, T. (2006). Structural Couplings of Young Knowledge-Intensive Business Service Firms in a Public-Driven Regional Innovation System. In: Fritsch, M., Schmude, J. (eds) Entrepreneurship in the Region. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 14. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-28376-5_9
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