Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
5
The spatial evolution of innovation networks:
a proximity perspective
Ron Boschma and Koen Frenken
1. Introduction
The role of networks in innovation processes has become a key research area in the
i eld of innovation studies over the last decade and a half (Freeman, 1991; Hagedoorn,
2002; Powell et al., 1996). Not surprisingly, the rapid increase in the number of studies
on innovation networks in an inter-disciplinary i eld as innovation studies has led to a
great variety of theories, concepts and methodologies (Ozman, 2009). Only recently,
geographers have jumped on the empirical study of the spatial dimensions of networks
in innovation processes, following the vast literature on national and regional innovation
systems developed in the 1990s (Ter Wal and Boschma, 2009a). Despite this attention,
network analysis is still underdeveloped in the geography of innovation. This is also true
for an evolutionary approach to this topic, although attempts have been undertaken (see
e.g. Giuliani, 2007; Glückler, 2007; and Chapters 16, 17, 12 and 14 in this volume by
Breschi et al., Cantner and Graf, Giuliani, and Glückler).
Our aim is to propose an evolutionary perspective on the geography of network for-
mation that is i rmly grounded in a dynamic proximity framework. Doing so, we link the
emerging literatures on network and proximity dynamics. The study on network evolu-
tion is still in a premature phase (Powell et al., 2005), though considered crucial for the
development of an evolutionary perspective on the geography of innovation networks.
Following Boschma (2005), we present various forms of proximity as alternative driving
forces behind network formation. In doing so, we root the proximity concept in an evo-
lutionary approach to the geography of innovation networks. In this chapter, we discuss
three topics.
The i rst topic focuses on explaining the structure of networks. For instance, why are
some individuals or networks better connected than others? Do individuals and i rms
that are geographically proximate show a higher degree of connectivity? We use ideas
obtained from the French school on proximity dynamics (e.g. Rallet, 1993; Rallet and
Torre, 1999) to explain the formation of innovation networks. They state that other
forms of proximity besides geographical proximity may facilitate interactive learning
and innovation. In that context, Boschma (2005) has claimed that geographical proxim-
ity is neither a necessary nor a sui cient condition for learning and innovation. In this
chapter, we will present the dif erent forms of proximity as alternative forces driving
network formation.
The second topic concentrates on explaining the ef ects of networks. For instance,
does connectivity increase the innovativeness of organizations? And do local or non-
local networks af ect the performance of organizations (Bathelt et al., 2004)? While a
high degree of proximity might be considered a prerequisite to make agents connected,
when assessing the ef ects of network linkages, we argue that proximity between agents
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