Björn Asheim

Industrial districts as ‘learning regions’: A condition for prosperity

The aim of this book is to present a much-needed conceptualization of ‘the learning region’. The editors scrutinize key concepts and issues surrounding this phenomenon, which are then discussed in the context of recent literature. This unique conceptualization of the learning region presents a state of the art exploration of theories. Leading scholars from across Europe, the USA and South Africa draw upon various disciplines to explain how regional actors perform regional learning.

Location, agglomeration and innovation: Towards regional innovation systems in Norway?

Abstract The theoretical part of the article examines the concept of regional innovation systems against the background of modern theories of innovation. The view of interactive learning as a fundamental aspect of the innovation process provides the ground for an interactive innovation model, which is greatly facilitated by geographical proximity and territorial agglomeration. The empirical part analyzes geographical variations in innovation activity in Norwegian industry, as well as examining more thoroughly innovation performance in two industrial agglomerations in Norway. On the basis of the theoretical clarification and empirical analyses carried out, the article finally discuss how to design a regional innovation policy for three main area types in Norway.

Knowledge Bases, Talents, and Contexts: On the Usefulness of the Creative Class Approach in Sweden

Abstract The geography of the creative class and its impact on regional development has been debated for some years. While the ideas of Richard Florida have permeated local and regional planning strategies in most parts of the Western world, critiques have been numerous. Florida’s 3T’s (technology, talent, and tolerance) have been adopted without considering whether the theory fits into the settings of a specific urban and regional context. This article aims to contextualize and unpack the creative class approach by applying the knowledge-base approach and break down the rigid assumption that all people in the creative class share common locational preferences. We argue that the creative class draws on three different knowledge bases: synthetic, analytical, and symbolic, which have different implications for people’s residential locational preferences with respect to a people climate and a business climate. Furthermore, the dominating knowledge base in a region has an influence on the importance of a people climate and a business climate for attracting and retaining talent. In this article, we present an empirical analysis in support of these arguments using original Swedish data.

Nodes, networks and proximities: on the knowledge dynamics of the Medicon Valley biotech cluster

Empirical research on the knowledge dynamics of biotechnology demonstrates a dual local‐global knowledge flow pattern. The sector is characterised by strong spatial concentration around nodes of excellence that are interconnected through a global network. This requires a specification of the notion of proximity as a facilitator of learning processes which emphasises its multifaceted configuration. This study highlights the significance of relational proximity within epistemic communities shaping innovation processes across multi‐spatial scales. These arguments are illustrated with a database‐survey on collaboration in scientific publication by 109 biotechnology firms in the Danish‐Swedish life‐science cluster Medicon Valley.

DIFFERENTIATED KNOWLEDGE BASES AND VARIETIES OF REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS

This article introduces a theoretical and analytical framework for discussing regional development and regional advantage with reference to a regional innovation system strategy. It uses the differentiated knowledge base approach to transcend the traditional codified–tacit dichotomy of knowledge, and for providing a trans-sectoral understanding of economic activities. Different regional innovation systems are presented and described. The discussion of various types of regional innovation systems is contextualized using a variety of capitalist perspectives. The article concludes by discussing the question if regional innovation systems can exist.

Clusters and Regional Development: Critical Reflections and Explorations

1. The Rise of the Cluster Concept in Regional Analysis and Policy: A Critical Assessment 2. The Theory of Clusters: Why Different Interpretations have Emerged and What they Signify 3. Entrepreneurs as Agents in the Formation of Industrial Clusters 4. Origins and Evolution of Clusters: The Case of the Hollywood Motion Picture Industry 5. Cluster Location and Firm Performance 6. (How) Do Clusters Create Knowledge? 7. Spaces of Knowledge Flows: Clusters in a Global Context 8. Does Clustering Increase the Capacity of Localities for Innovation? 9. Learning, Innovation and Cluster Dynamics 10. In Search of a Theory of the Industrial District Model 11. Cutting Through the Chaos: A New Typology of Industrial Districts and Clusters 12. Cluster and Hinterland: An Assessment of the Cluster Approach to Economic Development 13. Putting Clusters in their Place 14. Postlude: The Future of the Cluster Conceptraphy, is that of understanding and explaining industrial agglomeration. Michael Porter’s introduction and discussion of the cluster concept has served in many ways to push the debate surrounding agglomeration further and revived older debates on industrial location. Porter’s work has also been decisive in strengthening the policy relevance of clusters and related concepts that are now widely used to support regional and national economic development policies. Having said this, it is arguable to which degree different self-proclaimed cluster policies are actually based on the same model, since the link between academic conceptualization and policy formulation is often weak. Academic debates on clusters are also anything but consistent. In this context of conceptual and empirical ambiguity, this book, edited by Bjørn Asheim, Philip Cooke, and Ron Martin, aims to present “an incisive and theoretically informed assessment of the cluster notion, drawing out both its undoubted strengths and attractions, but also its weaknesses and limitations” (p. xvii). Considering the enormous popularity of cluster approaches among policy makers in many different parts of the world, one would expect a substantial part of the book to deal with the design of appropriate, or the critique of inappropriate, cluster policies and institutions. Aside from a few accounts, these are, however, not the core topics of the volume. In reading the book, it becomes clear from the outset that it is not structured in a way that makes it easy for use in the classroom. The editors do not provide much help regarding its overall structure and logic. It would have been more useful to organize the chapters along some of the following topics: a critique of Porter, a definition of clusters, the relation of clusters to other concepts, labor market and cluster institutions, local buzz and global pipelines, entrepreneurship and clustering, and cluster policies. In this review, I look at the individual chapters in this order and raise some broader issues whenever applicable.

The Concept of the Firm in Economic Geography

Abstract This paper argues that the poor conceptualization of the “firm” in economic geography detracts from the analytical strengths and policy relevance of the discipline. Identified as a phenotype, the firm remains ambiguous as an analytical category. This paper reviews nine overlapping conceptualizations of the firm in order to identify their relevance to the economic geography project. It discusses the broad strengths and weaknesses of these approaches and describes the unique perspective each provides on the nature and functioning of the firm.

Temporary organizations and spatial embeddedness of learning and knowledge creation

It is the overall aim of this article to investigate theoretically how spatial embeddedness of learning and knowledge creation might be challenged by alternative organisational forms (i.e. temporary organisations). The article presents development coalitions as an alternative to projects as a form of temporary organisation. They are potentially able to combine the promotion of radical change with collective and localised learning, thus eliminating some of the characteristic shortcomings of project organizations with regard to collective learning and transfer of knowledge.

Exploring the multiple roles of Lund University in strengthening Scania's regional innovation system: Towards institutional learning?

Universities are increasingly seen as potential contributors to regional innovative capacity by serving as local knowledge conduits, bringing global state-of-the-art science and technology into the region. In practice, however, more active university engagement with their regional innovation systems is not as straightforward as it may seem. The article uses examples from a successful case by which less successful regions could be inspired. Our analysis considers how various forms of technological learning intersecting within Lund University around three distinct sectoral engagement efforts have been built up and how this created new structural regional innovation capacity.

Regions, absorptive capacity and strategic coupling with hightech TNCs: Lessons from India and China

This article is concerned with what conditions successful development of high-tech regions in developing countries. It argues that the recent regional turn in development studies should be welcomed as regions play an increasingly important role for high-tech industries in developed and developing countries. While acknowledging the insights stemming from the regional turn the article nevertheless argues the need to extent the theoretical perspectives and to apply a regional innovation systems (RIS) approach. RIS has its strength in theoretically linking regions and high-tech industries. This article contextualises RIS to the situations characterising developing countries. Special attention is paid to how regions in developing countries can engage in a strategic coupling with high-tech TNCs. The importance of RIS as an analytical approach and tool for policy prescription is illustrated by two Asian high-tech cases, namely Bangalores IT RIS in India and Shanghais high-tech RIS in China.This article is concerned with what conditions successful development of high-tech regions in developing countries. It argues that the recent regional turn in development studies should be welcomed as regions play an increasingly important role for high-tech industries in developed and developing countries. While acknowledging the insights stemming from the regional turn the article nevertheless argues the need to extent the theoretical perspectives and to apply a regional innovation systems (RIS) approach. RIS has its strength in theoretically linking regions and high-tech industries. This article contextualises RIS to the situations characterising developing countries. Special attention is paid to how regions in developing countries can engage in a strategic coupling with high-tech TNCs. The importance of RIS as an analytical approach and tool for policy prescription is illustrated by two Asian high-tech cases, namely Bangalores IT RIS in India and Shanghais high-tech RIS in China.