Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Milieus of Creativity pp 201–218Cite as

Space(s) of Innovation: Regional Knowledge Economies

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Knowledge and Space ((KNAS,volume 2))

In terms of subnational entities such as urban agglomerations, provinces, and counties, regions are major arenas in which knowledge-producing and knowledge-exploiting activities are rooted, with marketable innovative products or processes emerging from the location-specific interplay of economic, social, cultural, technological, and political factors (Malecki, 1997, 2000; Meusburger, 2000, 2008). Presumably, there is something fundamentally “spatial” and “place-bound” that determines the abilities of corporate actors to innovate. There are also certain constellations of factors that shape spaces of innovation, understood as outstanding agglomerations of firms and other organizations that successfully engage in the generation and economic exploitation of knowledge-intensive activities. Because creativity is important in inducing innovativeness, the notions of spaces of innovation and milieus of creativity are, logically, strongly linked, as I show in this chapter.

Like regional economists, economic geographers have been exploring relevant dynamics and determinants of the knowledge-based economy for several decades, filling entire libraries with their writings (for recent synopses, see Cooke et al., 2007; Simmie, 2005). In the following pages I draw on a range of these works to present currently prominent chains of argumentation and perspectives. I discuss key terminological, conceptual, and empirical foundations, trying to open the black box of why and how innovative spaces and regional knowledge economies evolve in response to the dynamics of an environment that enhances creativity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Amabile, T. M. (1996). Creativity in context: Update to The social psychology of creativity. Boulder, CO: Westview.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amin, A. & Cohendet, P. (2004). Architectures of knowledge: Firms, capabilities and communities. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asheim, B., Cooke, P., & Martin, R. (2006). Clusters and regional development: Critical reflections and explorations. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Audretsch, D. B. & Feldman, M. P. (1996). R&D spillovers and the geography of innovation and production. The American Economic Review, 86, 630–640.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aydalot, P. (1986). Milieux innovateurs en Europe [Milieus of innovators in Europe]. Paris: GREMI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. S. & Duguid, P. (2002). Local knowledge: Innovation in the networked age. Management Learning, 33, 427–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buschmann, B. (2005). Bedeutung von Wissen für Regionen [The importance of knowledge for regions]. Position paper in online conference documentation for Perspektiven für Land & Leute: Regionale Kooperationen für Existenzgründungen, Berlin, February 1, 2005. Retrieved July 28, 2008, from http://www.bmfsfj.de/Publikationen/perspektiven/ 3-Arbeitsgruppen/Arbeitsgruppe-regionales-prozess-und-wissensmanagement/positions papier-dr-birgit-buschmann.html

  • Buttimer, A. (Ed.) (1983). Creativity and context (Lund Studies in Geography, Series B, No. 50). Lund, Sweden: The Royal University of Lund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camagni, R. (1991). Innovation networks: Spatial perspectives. London: Bellhaven.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cimoli, M. & Dosi, G. (1995). Technological paradigms, patterns of learning and development: An introductory roadmap. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 5, 243–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, N., Kelly, P., & Yeung, H. W. (2007). Economic geography. A contemporary introduction. London: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, P. (1992). Regional innovation systems: Competitive regulation in the new Europe. Geoforum, 23, 365–382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, P. & Schwarz, D. (Eds) (2007). Creative regions—technology, culture and knowledge entrepreneurship. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, P., Boekholt, P., & Tödtling, F. (2000). The governance of innovation in Europe—Regional perspectives on global competitiveness. London: Pinter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, P., Heidenreich, M., & Braczyk, H.-J. (2004). Regional innovations systems: The role of governance in a globalized world. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, P., De Laurentis, C., Tödtling, F., & Trippl, M. (2007). Regional knowledge economies: Markets, clusters and innovation. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1997). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. New York: HarperCollins.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission & Eurostat (2004). Statistics on science and technology in Europe: Data 1991–2002 (p. 26). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, M. P. & Desrochers, P. (2003). Research universities and local economic development. Industry and Innovation, 10, 5–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fromhold-Eisebith, M. (1995). Das “kreative Milieu” als Motor regionalwirtschaftlicher Entwicklung. Forschungstrends und Erfassungsmöglichkeiten [The “creative milieu” as an engine of regional economic development: Research trends and survey possibilities]. Geographische Zeitschrift, 83, 30–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fromhold-Eisebith, M. (2001). Kreatives Milieu [Creative milieu]. In E. Brunotte, H. Gebhardt, M. Meurer, P. Meusburger, & J. Nipper (Eds.), Lexikon der Geographie (Vol. 2, pp. 269–272). Heidelberg, Germany: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fromhold-Eisebith, M. (2004). Innovative milieu and social capital—Complementary or redundant concepts of collaboration-based regional development? European Planning Studies, 12, 747–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fromhold-Eisebith, M. (2007). Bridging scales in innovation policies: How to link regional, national and international innovation systems. European Planning Studies, 15, 217–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs, G. & Shapira, P. (2005). Rethinking regional innovation and change: Path dependency or regional breakthrough? New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goddard, J. B. & Morris, D. (1976). The communications factor in office decentralization. Progress in Planning, 6, 1–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, I. R. & McCann, P. (2005). Innovation, agglomeration, and regional development. Journal of Economic Geography, 5, 523–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grabher, G. (2002). Cool projects, boring institutions: Temporary collaboration in social context. Regional Studies, 36, 205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grabher, G. (2004). Learning in projects, remembering in networks? Communality, sociality and connectivity in project ecologies. European Urban and Regional Studies, 11, 103–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greif, S. (2004). Wissen als Ressource: Patentaktivitäten [Knowledge as a resource: Patent activities]. In Leibniz-Institut für Länderkunde (Ed.), Nationalatlas Bundesrepublik Deutschland— Unternehmen und Märkte (pp. 82–83). Munich, Germany: Elsevier Spektrum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassink, R. (2001). The learning region: A fuzzy concept or a sound theoretical basis for modern regional innovation policies? Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsgeographie, 45, 219–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howells, J. (2002). Tacit knowledge, innovation and economic geography. Urban Studies, 39, 871–884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jekel, T. & Fromhold-Eisebith, M. (2003). IDentität und regionalwirtschaftliche Innovativität. Diskussion eines hypothetischen Zusammenhangs [IDentity and regional economic innovative-ness: Discussion of a hypothetical link]. Geographische Zeitschrift, 91, 115–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koschatzky, K. & Sternberg, R. (2000). R&D cooperation in innovation systems—some lessons from the European Regional Innovation Survey (ERIS). European Planning Studies, 8, 487–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambooy, J. G. (2002). Knowledge and urban economic development: An evolutionary perspective. Urban Studies, 39, 1019–1035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundvall, B. Å. (1992). National systems of innovation. London: Pinter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malecki, E. J. (1997). Technology and economic development: The dynamics of local, regional and national competitiveness. Harlow, England: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malecki, E. J. (2000). Knowledge and regional competitiveness. Erdkunde, 54, 334–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malecki, E. J. & Poehling, R. M. (1999). Extroverts and introverts: Small manufacturers and their information sources. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 11, 247–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malmberg, A. & Maskell, P. (2002). The elusive concept of localization economies: Towards a knowledge-based theory of spatial clustering. Environment and Planning A, 34, 429–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, R. & Sunley, P., 2003. Deconstructing clusters: Chaotic concept or Policy panacea? Journal of Economic Geography, 3, 5–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massey, D. (2005). For space. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meusburger, P. (1998). Bildungsgeographie. Wissen und Ausbildung in der räumlichen Dimension [Geography of education: Knowledge and education in the spatial dimension]. Heidelberg, Germany: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meusburger, P. (2000). The spatial concentration of knowledge: Some theoretical considerations. Erdkunde, 54, 352–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meusburger, P. (2001). Geography of knowledge, education, and skills. In N. J. Smelser & P. B. Baltes (Eds.), International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (Vol. 12, pp. 8120–8126). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meusburger, P. (2008). The nexus of knowledge and space. In P. Meusburger (Series Eds.) & P. Meusburger, M. Welker, & E. Wunder (Vol. Eds.), Knowledge and space: Vol. 1. Clashes of knowledge (pp. 35–90). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mintzberg, H. (1979). The structuring of organizations: A synthesis of the research. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, K. (1997). The learning region: Institutions, innovation and regional renewal. Regional Studies, 31, 491–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, K. (2004). The exaggerated death of geography: Learning, proximity and territorial innovation systems. Journal of Economic Geography, 4, 3–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moulaert, F. & Sekia, F. (2003). Territorial innovation models: A critical survey. Regional Studies, 37, 289–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perroux, F. (1955). Note sur la notion de pôle de croissance [Note on the notion of a growth pole]. Économie Appliquée, 7, 307–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E. (2000). Locations, clusters, and company strategy. In G. L. Clark, M. S. Gertler, & M. P. Feldman (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of economic geography (pp. 253–274). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pro Inno Europe & Innometrics (2007). European innovation scoreboard 2006: Comparative analysis of innovation performance. Brussels: Commission of the European Union (Available at http://www.proinno-europe.eu/doc/EIS2006_final.pdf, last accessed November 26, 2007).

  • Ratti, R., Bramanti, A., & Gordon, R. (1997). The dynamics of innovative regions: The GREMI-approach. Aldershot, England: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Revilla Diez, J. (2000). The importance of public research institutions in innovative networks— empirical results from the metropolitan innovation systems Barcelona. European Planning Studies, 8, 451–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Revilla Diez, J. (2001). Innovative links between industry and research institutes-how important are they for firm start-ups. In K. Koschatzky, M. Kulicke, & A. Zenker (Eds.), Innovation networks—Concepts and challenges in the European perspective (pp. 93–108). Heidelberg, Germany: Physica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Revilla Diez, J. (2002). Betrieblicher Innovationserfolg und räumliche Nähe—Zur Bedeutung innovativer Kooperationsverflechtungen in metropolitanen Verdichtungsregionen, die Beispiele Barcelona, Stockholm und Wien [Industrial innovation success and spatial proximity—on the significance of innovative cooperation networks in regions of urban agglomerations as exemplified by Barcelona, Stockholm, and Vienna]. Münster, Germany: LIT-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schamp, E. W. & Lo, V. (2003). Knowledge, learning, and regional development: An introduction. In V. Lo & E. W. Schamp (Eds.), Knowledge, learning, and regional development (pp. 1–12) (Wirtschaftsgeographie 24). Münster, Germany: LIT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmie, J. (2003). Innovation and urban regions as national and international nodes for the transfer and sharing of knowledge. Regional Studies, 37, 607–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmie, J. (2005). Innovation and space: A critical review of the literature. Regional Studies, 39, 789–804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, R. (1998). Technologiepolitik und High-Tech-Regionen—ein internationaler Vergleich [Technology policy and high-tech regions—an international comparison]. Münster, Germany: LIT-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Storper, M. (1995). The resurgence of regional economies, ten years later: The region as a nexus of untraded interdependencies. European Urban and Regional Studies, 2, 191–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storper, M. & Venables, A. J. (2004). Buzz: Face-to-face contact and the urban economy. Journal of Economic Geography, 4, 351–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrift, N. J. (1999). Steps to an ecology of place. In D. Massey, J. Allen, & P. Sarre (Eds.), Human geography today (pp. 295–322). Cambridge, England: Polity.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tödtling, F. & Kaufmann, A. (1999). Innovation systems in regions in Europe—a comparative perspective. European Planning Studies, 7, 699–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. RWTH Aachen, Geographisches Institut Templergraben 55, Aachen, D-52056

    Martina Fromhold-Eisebith

Authors
  1. Martina Fromhold-Eisebith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Heidelberg, Germany

    Joachim Funke

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fromhold-Eisebith, M. (2009). Space(s) of Innovation: Regional Knowledge Economies. In: Meusburger, P., Funke, J., Wunder, E. (eds) Milieus of Creativity. Knowledge and Space, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9877-2_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation