{"title":"Breakthrough Invention Performance of Multispecialized Clustered Regions in Europe","authors":"I. De Noni, F. Belussi","doi":"10.1080/00130095.2021.1894924","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"abstract The regional literature of the last decades has been characterized by an extended debate on the role of regional diversification compared to specialization as a driver of innovation. In this context, the smart specialization framework has recently developed a balanced perspective by emphasizing the role of related diversification of the regional portfolio. Nevertheless, most of the empirical research on the topic has investigated the intensity rather than relevance of technological progress. This article contributes to this framework by exploring the breakthrough performance of European regions. In particular, by focusing on industry–region pairs in place of regions as a whole, the article attempts to claim that the ability to produce breakthrough inventions is higher in multispecialized clustered regions, since it depends on both the specialization of industries and the technological relatedness to the clustered industries of the region. The implications at the level of regional policies are huge, given that the potential of unrelated competitive industries might remain largely unexploited, and diversification in related, although not competitive, industries risks being unprofitable.","PeriodicalId":48225,"journal":{"name":"Economic Geography","volume":"97 1","pages":"164 - 186"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2000,"publicationDate":"2021-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/00130095.2021.1894924","citationCount":"11","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Economic Geography","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00130095.2021.1894924","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ECONOMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 11
Abstract
abstract The regional literature of the last decades has been characterized by an extended debate on the role of regional diversification compared to specialization as a driver of innovation. In this context, the smart specialization framework has recently developed a balanced perspective by emphasizing the role of related diversification of the regional portfolio. Nevertheless, most of the empirical research on the topic has investigated the intensity rather than relevance of technological progress. This article contributes to this framework by exploring the breakthrough performance of European regions. In particular, by focusing on industry–region pairs in place of regions as a whole, the article attempts to claim that the ability to produce breakthrough inventions is higher in multispecialized clustered regions, since it depends on both the specialization of industries and the technological relatedness to the clustered industries of the region. The implications at the level of regional policies are huge, given that the potential of unrelated competitive industries might remain largely unexploited, and diversification in related, although not competitive, industries risks being unprofitable.
期刊介绍:
Economic Geography is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing original research that advances the field of economic geography. Their goal is to publish high-quality studies that are both theoretically robust and grounded in empirical evidence, contributing to our understanding of the geographic factors and consequences of economic processes. It welcome submissions on a wide range of topics that provide primary evidence for significant theoretical interventions, offering key insights into important economic, social, development, and environmental issues. To ensure the highest quality publications, all submissions undergo a rigorous peer-review process with at least three external referees and an editor. Economic Geography has been owned by Clark University since 1925 and plays a central role in supporting the global activities of the field, providing publications and other forms of scholarly support. The journal is published five times a year in January, March, June, August, and November.