Cooperation and specialization in German technology regions (original) (raw)

Cooperation, Specialization and Patenting in German Technology Regions

2003

We investigate cooperative behavior within technology regions in patenting activities. Case studies of local innovation systems point out certain characteristics fruitful to innovation and regional growth but often pronounce historical singularities as major influence. We provide evidence on the same theoretical basis in an econometric study. Based on a theoretical discussion of research cooperation hypotheses are derived which relate a regions technological characteristics to that regions account of research cooperation. Patent data are used to define the technological specialization of German regions and identify cooperations within and between them. Most cooperations tend to take place in modestly specialized regions, indicating a need for similar technological capabilities between partner firms.

An investigation of the relation between cooperation and the innovative success of German regions

2010

Abstract. Concepts like regional innovation systems, innovative milieu, and learning regions emphasize the positive contribution of intra-regional cooperation to firms' innovation performance. Despite substantial numbers of case studies, the quantitative empirical evidence for this claim is thin. Using data on the co-application and coinvention of patents for 270 German labor market regions the study shows that intraregional cooperation intensity and regional innovation efficiency are associated.

Regional and technological effects of cooperation behavior

Jena Economic Research Papers, 2008

In this paper we investigate the determinants of cooperative innovation and put our main focus on the regional or spatial and on the technological or sectoral dimension. We suggest a method to disentangle these two factors and to extract differential regional effects. The latter can be used to identify and evaluate the strength of regional innovation systems. Applying this method to German patent data we find evidence that regional differences in the degree of cooperative innovation are not only due to the technological/sectoral composition of the region but also due to a specific regional effect.

Dynamics of Collaborative Invention Tracking Growth of Cooperative and Total Patents in the Region

2011

The paper targets the relationship between growth of cooperation and later growth of innovation at the regional level. Patent data for German regions and eleven subsequent years is used to identify collaborative activity as well as the innovative output in each region. The results confirm to some extend previous expectations based on the assumption of an inverted U-relationship. Depending on the regional level of cooperation there are positive and negative effects of a change in regional cooperation behaviour in the industries Radio, Television and Communication Equipment and Machinery and Equipment. No significant results are obtained for the industries Chemicals and Chemical Products as well as Medical, Precision and Optical Instruments.

Regional Effects on Cooperative Innovation Activities and

2009

The literature on "Innovation Systems" is divided into several directories. Differences occur through the definition of the system's borders. This paper introduces a methodology how to differentiate between regional and technological effects of cooperative innovation activities and analyzes furthermore how different dimensions of regional knowledge affect the regional effects on cooperative innovation activities. We find evidence that the related variety of knowledge available within a region and its combination with a proxy of the amount of knowledge foster regional effects of cooperative innovation activities. Additionally, we find that the development of German regions fits with the suggestions of the Regional Innovation System (RIS) approach. JEL classification: C30; L14; O32 Keywords: regional development, regional effects of cooperative behavior, knowledge, related variety of knowledge * We thank the Volkswagen-Foundation for financing our project "2nd order innovations" and the DFG for financing the position of Andreas Meder within the DFG-GK-1411 "The Economics of Innovative Change".

The dynamics of inter-regional collaboration: an analysis of co-patenting

The Annals of Regional Science, 2013

The paper at hand investigates how co-patenting over distance develops when aggregating inventive activities on a regional level. That means, the object of analysis is a link between two regions in contrast to other studies, where links between two individuals or firms are investigated. We analyse which regional characteristics influence the creation and continuation of such links. The main focus lies on different types of distance. The approach adds a dynamic view to the existing, often static literature about collaboration behaviour. The regressions are done for all patent-relevant industries in Germany. We find that several distance types decrease-as expected-the likelihood of link creation but also-not in all cases expected-of link continuation.

An Investigation of the Relation between Cooperation Intensity and the Innovative Success of German Regions

Spatial Economic Analysis, 2014

Concepts like regional innovation systems, innovative milieu and learning regions emphasise the positive contribution of intra-regional cooperation to firms' innovation performance. This claim is, however, primarily backed by qualitative evidence, as few studies test this issue with quantitative approaches. Using data on co-application and co-invention of patents for 270 German labour market regions, this study shows that cooperation intensity and regions' innovation efficiency are empirically associated in a negative way. This particularly concerns missing or very extensive interregional cooperation. In contrast, medium intensities of regional cooperation have rather positive effects.

Factors of Regional Innovativeness-An Empirical Analysis of German Patents for Five Industries

Abstract Concepts such as innovative milieus and diffusion of innovation acknowledge a spatial component in the innovation process. These perspecitves brought the region's infrastructure and it's endowment with crucial factors into the focus of research. The aim of this paper is to identify a number of key factors out of a multitude of structural variables that are thought to influence the firm's innovation activity.

Cooperation and the efficiency of regional R&D activities

2004

This paper investigates the relationship between the cooperative behaviour of manufacturing establishments in a region and the efficiency of their R&D activities, using data for 11 European regions. Some significant differences in the attitude towards R&D cooperation as well as with regard to the efficiency of R&D activities between the regions can be found. However, these two issues appear to a large degree to be empirically unrelated. Therefore, the role of R&D cooperation in regional innovation systems remains unclear.