Spatial dynamics of innovation (In French)

If it is largely assumed that space matters for innovation, theoretical understanding and measures of agglomeration remain a source of debates. This article proposes a review of the geography of innovation approaches through the balance between individual interactions and their context (between interactions and institutions). From the NEG to innovation systems, through localized knowledge spillovers and economics of proximity, the paper underlines the importance of geography in understanding innovation, but also the difficulties raised in doing so.Innovation; Space; Knowledge spillovers; Proximity; Clusters; Innovation systems

Knowledge and the diversity of innovation systems: a comparative analysis of European regions

The main goal of this paper is to shed some light on European regional diversity in terms of knowledge accumulation and socio-economic performances. Dynamic links between knowledge, innovation and performance are complex to address because they take place in different contexts, involving heterogeneous agents interacting through different institutions. Studies on national systems of innovation (Edquist, 1997) stressed the role of the institutional context in these dynamics and identify various configurations associated with these national systems. This conceptual framework, used at the regional level, leads to the identification of regional systems of innovation (Cooke, 2001) and thus underlines the limits of a regional scoreboard only based on high-tech indicators as it is usually proposed. This paper constitutes a first attempt to propose a more exhaustive effort in characterizing the diversity of "regional knowledge an innovation systems" within Europe. The study is performed through data analysis using the conceptual framework of "social systems of innovation and production" (SSIP) proposed by Amable, Barré and Boyer (1997). A Social System of Innovation and Production can be defined as a coherent combination of different components referring to Science-technology-industry (STI) configurations articulated with financial system, labour relations, education and training and economic performances. This framework can be adapted at the regional level by identifying specific arrangements of each part of the system even if the concept of system is questionable at this level. The analysis is performed combining data from three sources (Eurostat, the Cambridge Econometrics database and OST (Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques)) over a sample of NUTS-II european regions and using multivariate data analysis (principal component analysis, hierarchical anova). Putting together the SSIP and local economic performances allows defining different regional configurations in order to identify regional trajectories and patterns of articulation between knowledge dynamics and performance. Our hypothesis is that regional growth in not a problem of best practice but of coherent knowledge combination: institutional differences may lead similar (or different) STI structures to different (respectively same) performances.NARegional Innovation systems, Knowledge economy, Institutional diversity, European regions, Regional economic performances

Regional configurations of innovative dynamics and socio-economic performances of French regions (In French)

The paper attempts to characterize the configurations of innovation dynamics within the French regions, using the methodological approach in terms of social systems of innovation and production developed by Amable, Barré and Boyer. The statistical analysis of a broad whole of data makes it possible to highlight the various regional profiles in the Science-Technology-Industry interactions, in training and education, and in economic and social performances during the 90s. The analysis underlines the close link between these regional performances and their scientific and technological competences, as well as the advantages of industrial, scientific and technological diversification / of specialization on dynamic sectors.France, innovation, regional growth, regional system of innovation

Diversity of capitalism and Central and Eastern European Countries. A statistical analysis. (In French)

Realised within the framework of the ESEMK project supported by the EU (FP6, Priority 7, Contract CIT-CT-2004-506077), the present study proposes a statistical analysis of the variety of the European socio-economic models integrating Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) using Bruno Amable’s approach of the diversity of capitalism. The analysis relies on the theoretical design of institutional complementarities whose coherence defines the character of model of capitalism. The aim of this methodological study is to test the stability of Amable’s results when new countries are introduced (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey and one emerging country, Mexico, in order to diversify our sample), and to position the CEEC with respect to the European models already identified. Although the typology of the five capitalisms seems finally well resist to the introduction of new countries, it is however necessary to note some more dubious configurations on the side of European continental and Mediterranean models. Concerning the new introduced countries, the three Central European countries differs from the whole of the other models whereas Turkey is close to the Mediterranean model.variety of capitalism, institutional complementarities, Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC)

Why Do Firms Relocate? Lessons from a Regional Analysis

Abstract: In recent years, the qualitative evolution of relocations (from low-cost offshoring to more technologically intensive relocations) has become a new concern in political debate. Focusing on these new trends, the aim of this paper is to better understand relocations from the firms’ point of view. The concept of relocation is reformulated by adopting a broad definition considering it as a specific dimension of firms’ mobility options. We consider three analytical dimensions: relocation as a productive problem (“relational space” for coordination), relocation in a territorial dimension (“geographical space”) and relocation as a complex decision-making process (“political space”). On this basis, we combine two strands of literature (economics of proximity and institutional approaches of the firm) for a better understanding of the decision-making process and the resulting diversity of situations. The framework is finally applied to the specific case of the Aquitaine region of southwest France in order to identify the conditions of anchoring and mobility of firms in spatial terms. Our aim is to show that the decision-making process of relocations cannot be reduced to a simple cost calculation, leaving room for local public policies

Regional knowledge bases and territorial dynamics of industries: a comparison of biotech, ICT and automotive industries across Europe

EURODITE WP8 report, EURODITE Integrated Project (6th FP) 29 page