Title: European medium-technology innovation networks: a multi-methodological multi-regional approach

Authors: Michael Steiner, Javier Alfonso Gil, Oliver Ehret, Michael Ploder, Rudiger Wink

Addresses: Joanneum Research, Institute of Technology and Regional Policy, Elisabethstrasse 20, 8010 Graz, Austria. ' Universita Autonoma de Madrid, Dipartimento de Estructura Economica e Economia Desarollo, Campus de Cantoblanco, Ctra de Colmenar Viejo, 15, 28049 Madrid, Spain. ' National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology, Kurfürstendamm 21, 10719 Berlin, Germany. ' Joanneum Research, Institute of Technology and Regional Policy, Elisabethstrasse 20, 8010 Graz, Austria. ' Hochschule fur Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur – HTWK Leipzig, PO Box 301166, 04251 Leipzig, Germany

Abstract: Most scientific studies on innovation deal with high-technology sectors, although medium-technology industries are still the most relevant contributors to employment and market shares in Europe. Based on three different methodological approaches (social network analysis, regression analysis and qualitative research), the importance of technology-specific, firm-specific and region-specific factors on the structure of innovation networks in medium-technology sectors is investigated. It can be shown within this explorative study that networks in the four investigated case regions increasingly rely on knowledge instead of material linkages and firm characteristics determine the position of organisations within the networks. The actual structure of networks and the choice, which firm-specific factors are important for network positions, vary across the regions and cannot be explained by general regional characteristics. Thus, more concrete research on single regions is still necessary.

Keywords: social network theory; regional innovation systems; new economic geography; integrative technologies; social networking; medium-technology sectors; regional systems of innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2010.032675

International Journal of Technology Management, 2010 Vol.50 No.3/4, pp.229 - 262

Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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