Networks in the Innovation Process
Networks in the innovation process. In M. M. Fischer & P. Nijkamp (Eds.), Handbook of Regional Science: Springer, Forthcoming
15 Pages Posted: 1 Apr 2012
Date Written: 2012
Abstract
This chapter reviews the importance of networks in the innovation process from a spatial perspective. Such networks are part of different scale systems of innovation and are essential to the creation of knowledge externalities. It is well established in the extant literature that innovation does not occur in isolation and furthermore, inter-organizational networks facilitate innovation creation. Social networks, trust and local embeddedness play key roles in the formation of such networks. In addition, relational perspectives, such as non-geographical proximities, are also vital factors for the creation of innovation networks, the main of objective of which is knowledge creation. Important enough, the latter can be approached as crucial production factor in the frame of the knowledge economy. Moreover, scale is an important attribute of such networks, as both local and global links are important in the innovation process.
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