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Comparing knowledge bases: on the geography and organization of knowledge sourcing in the regional innovation system of Scania, Sweden

Martin, Roman LU and Moodysson, Jerker LU (2013) In European Urban and Regional Studies 20(2). p.170-187
Abstract
This paper deals with knowledge flows and collaboration between firms in the regional innovation system of southern Sweden. The aim is to analyse how the functional and spatial organization of knowledge interdependencies among firms and other actors varies between different types of industries that draw on different types of knowledge bases. We use data from three case studies of firm clusters in the region: (1) the life science cluster represents an analytical (science-based) industry, (2) the food cluster includes mainly synthetic (engineering-based) industries, and (3) the moving media cluster is considered to be symbolic (artistic based). Knowledge sourcing and knowledge exchange in each of the cases are explored and compared using... (More)
This paper deals with knowledge flows and collaboration between firms in the regional innovation system of southern Sweden. The aim is to analyse how the functional and spatial organization of knowledge interdependencies among firms and other actors varies between different types of industries that draw on different types of knowledge bases. We use data from three case studies of firm clusters in the region: (1) the life science cluster represents an analytical (science-based) industry, (2) the food cluster includes mainly synthetic (engineering-based) industries, and (3) the moving media cluster is considered to be symbolic (artistic based). Knowledge sourcing and knowledge exchange in each of the cases are explored and compared using social network analysis in association with data gathered through interviews with firm representatives. Our findings reveal that knowledge exchange in geographical proximity is especially important for industries that rely on a symbolic or synthetic knowledge base, because the interpretation of the knowledge they deal with tends to differ between places. This is less the case for industries drawing on an analytical knowledge base, which rely more on scientific knowledge that is codified, abstract and universal and are therefore less sensitive to geographical distance. Thus, geographical clustering of firms in analytical industries builds on rationales other than the need for proximity for knowledge sourcing. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Knowledge base, innovation network, regional innovation system, Sweden
in
European Urban and Regional Studies
volume
20
issue
2
pages
170 - 187
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • wos:000318362900002
  • scopus:84866318735
ISSN
0969-7764
DOI
10.1177/0969776411427326
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
621330cb-65c0-4df2-b360-843c1c453c45 (old id 3821799)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:04:57
date last changed
2024-01-22 05:06:48
@article{621330cb-65c0-4df2-b360-843c1c453c45,
  abstract     = {{This paper deals with knowledge flows and collaboration between firms in the regional innovation system of southern Sweden. The aim is to analyse how the functional and spatial organization of knowledge interdependencies among firms and other actors varies between different types of industries that draw on different types of knowledge bases. We use data from three case studies of firm clusters in the region: (1) the life science cluster represents an analytical (science-based) industry, (2) the food cluster includes mainly synthetic (engineering-based) industries, and (3) the moving media cluster is considered to be symbolic (artistic based). Knowledge sourcing and knowledge exchange in each of the cases are explored and compared using social network analysis in association with data gathered through interviews with firm representatives. Our findings reveal that knowledge exchange in geographical proximity is especially important for industries that rely on a symbolic or synthetic knowledge base, because the interpretation of the knowledge they deal with tends to differ between places. This is less the case for industries drawing on an analytical knowledge base, which rely more on scientific knowledge that is codified, abstract and universal and are therefore less sensitive to geographical distance. Thus, geographical clustering of firms in analytical industries builds on rationales other than the need for proximity for knowledge sourcing.}},
  author       = {{Martin, Roman and Moodysson, Jerker}},
  issn         = {{0969-7764}},
  keywords     = {{Knowledge base; innovation network; regional innovation system; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{170--187}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{European Urban and Regional Studies}},
  title        = {{Comparing knowledge bases: on the geography and organization of knowledge sourcing in the regional innovation system of Scania, Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0969776411427326}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0969776411427326}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}