Patrick Lehner

Innovation in knowledge intensive industries: The nature and geography of knowledge links

Abstract Knowledge has become a key source of competitiveness for advanced regions and nations, indicating a transformation of capitalism towards a “knowledge economy”. Knowledge intensive sectors in production and in services have a lead in this respect, they can be considered as role models for the future. The innovation process, the mechanisms of knowledge exchange and the respective linkages in those industries differ quite markedly from those in other sectors. Clustering and local knowledge spillovers are frequently stated phenomena, although it is still unclear as to what the nature and geography of those knowledge links are. The aim of this paper is to examine the character of the innovation process and the type of interactions in those industries, in order to find out how strongly they are related to regional, national and international innovation systems. We will analyse the sources and the mechanisms of knowledge exchange and their relevance for innovation. The paper develops a typology of innovation interactions and provides empirical evidence for Austria based on data from a recent firm survey.

Effects of the Internet on the spatial structure of innovation networks

Research on innovation systems and innovative milieux has shown that the innovation process of companies is strongly interrelated with activities of other firms and organisations. Internet is a new information- and communication-technology with a considerable potential to change such relationships and networks. An often held expectation is that the Internet will allow firms to interact with distant partners more easily and that, as a consequence, innovation networks become independent from geographical space. A contrasting view argues that local and regional networks and innovation systems will keep their importance, due to the fact that tacit knowledge, face-to-face communication and institutional factors are still of key relevance. In the paper we are going to investigate to which extent and how the Internet changes innovation networks of companies. Does the use of Internet stimulate companies to interact with new types of innovation partners or with partners at wider spatial scales? We have analysed the effects of the Internet on innovation-related networks and knowledge-flows of companies by conducting a WWW-survey of Austrian firms amongst other investigations. In the present paper we report on the results of this Websurvey.

Modelling preferences and stability among transport alternatives

Abstract This research builds upon results of other studies aimed at understanding the context and shipment choices open to logistics managers. It further differentiates among such managers by characteristics of the production region and industrial cluster membership of their firms, which are positioned near or along one of the EUs primary accession borders where large increases in trade are expected. The article examines both the contingent valuation of transport choices and the stability of such choices. Earlier research applications are shown to be deficient on several points, such that the improved modelling procedures and novel possibilities of controlling for industrial or regional characteristics of firms are shown to provide better results. Finally, substantive findings offer both theoretical and policy perspectives.