Agglomeration and interregional network effects on European R&D productivity

This paper explores the effects of intra-regional agglomeration and interregional networking on the productivity of R&D across EU regions. The paper is based on the spatial econometric modelling framework presented in Varga (2000), and further develops a methodology for estimating the dynamic effects of agglomeration and interregional networks on R&D productivity in regional knowledge creation (measured by patent applications and publications) at the level of EU regions. This empirical modelling framework is applied to classify EU regions into different tiers according to the strengths of their agglomeration effects. These effects are then compared to the network effects of interregional connectedness as reflected in regional participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research. The estimated model is used then for an assessment of the impacts of EU Framework Programme expenditures on technological development and for carrying out policy impact simulations.Agglomeration, network effects, R&D productivity

Knowledge Spillover from Information and Communication Technology: A Comparative Study of Australia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

This paper analyses the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in Australia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan within a framework of endogenous growth theory. The focus of this study is ‘knowledge spillover' from ICT. The empirical results suggest that the knowledge spillover from ICT has a strong contribution to the economy-wide R&D; they also suggest that the contribution of ICT to output growth is very limited. These results are consistent with the recent finding that newly introduced technology involves a time lag to contribute to the output growth. As ICT is relatively a new technology, the effects of ICT seem to be still confined only in R&D activities.General; echnological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes; General; Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

Innovative Activity in Wind and Solar Technology: Empirical Evidence on Knowledge Spillovers Using Patent Data

This paper studies technological change in renewable energies, providing empirical evidence on the determinants of innovative activity with a special emphasis on the role of knowledge spillovers. We investigate two major renewable energy technologies - wind and solar - across a panel of 21 OECD countries over the period 1978 to 2004. Spillovers may occur at the national level, either within the same technology field or economic sector (intra-sectoral spillovers) or in related technologies or sectors (inter-sectoral spillovers), or at the international level. We find that innovation is strongly driven by knowledge spillovers, especially those occurring at the national level. Wind and solar technologies exhibit distinct innovation characteristics: both are stimulated by intra-sectoral spillovers, but respond differently to inter-sectoral spillovers, which are only influential in the case of wind technology. We also find evidence that public R&D stimulates innovation, particularly in solar technologies.Technological change, renewable energy, patents, knowledge spillover, climate change, innovation