Regional Technological Differences: The Case of Southern European Union
Posted: 17 Nov 2009
Date Written: 2005
Abstract
The relationship between the productivity rate of patents in the southern European Union (France, Italy, Spain) are analyzed, as well as the factors that generate new technological knowledge at the lowest level of spatial aggregation. Following a discussion of innovation in the European Union, data on the number of patents granted to various regions of the southern EU are described.Next, a spatial economic framework is used to study the spatial patterns of patents' productivity.A model of growth rates is then presented, followed by empirical results. These results suggest that the productivity of patents is highly related to the spatial dimension of R&D and employment. In other words, the effect of R&D and employment on the innovative activity of any geographical location spills over from outside those locations.The implications of the findings for regional economic policy are discussed. (SAA)
Keywords: European Patent Office, Spillover effects, Technology transfer, Public policies, Regions, Colleges & universities, Patents, Geographic distribution, R&D, Innovation process, Knowledge production, Firm growth, Employment, Knowledge spillovers
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