Article: Impacts of geographic region on knowledge spillover effects and innovation performance in healthcare Journal: International Journal of Business Innovation and Research (IJBIR) 2025 Vol.38 No.7 pp.1 - 17 Abstract: This study examines how geographic context shapes knowledge spillovers and innovation performance in the healthcare sector. Drawing on the open innovation paradigm, the knowledge spillover theory of innovation, and the regional innovation systems (RIS) framework, it analyses how healthcare professionals (HCPs) and medical technology company representatives (MedTechs) exchange knowledge and foster innovation across regions with varying knowledge-economy competitiveness. A quantitative cross-sectional design was applied using data from 97 Austrian participants. Analyses of variance and moderated moderation modelling tested the effects of professional group and regional competitiveness on the link between knowledge spillovers and innovation performance. Results show that knowledge spillovers significantly enhance innovation performance, particularly in competitive regions. A significant three-way interaction among spillovers, profession, and region indicates that innovation outcomes depend on both organisational and geographic conditions. The study advances open innovation and RIS research by clarifying how regional characteristics shape healthcare innovation. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Impacts of geographic region on knowledge spillover effects and innovation performance in healthcare

Authors: Mariella Zilahi-Lugbauer; Harald Stummer

Addresses: Department of Economic and Social Sciences, University Seeburg Castle, Seeburgstr. 8, 5201 Seekirchen am Wallersee, Austria ' UMIT TIROL, Institute for Management and Economics in Healthcare, EWZ 1, 6060 Hall in Tyrol, Austria; IMC Krems, Institute for Health Management, Piaristengasse 1, 3500 Krems/Donau, Austria

Abstract: This study examines how geographic context shapes knowledge spillovers and innovation performance in the healthcare sector. Drawing on the open innovation paradigm, the knowledge spillover theory of innovation, and the regional innovation systems (RIS) framework, it analyses how healthcare professionals (HCPs) and medical technology company representatives (MedTechs) exchange knowledge and foster innovation across regions with varying knowledge-economy competitiveness. A quantitative cross-sectional design was applied using data from 97 Austrian participants. Analyses of variance and moderated moderation modelling tested the effects of professional group and regional competitiveness on the link between knowledge spillovers and innovation performance. Results show that knowledge spillovers significantly enhance innovation performance, particularly in competitive regions. A significant three-way interaction among spillovers, profession, and region indicates that innovation outcomes depend on both organisational and geographic conditions. The study advances open innovation and RIS research by clarifying how regional characteristics shape healthcare innovation.

Keywords: healthcare; knowledge spillover; innovation performance; knowledge economy regions; open innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2025.150147

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2025 Vol.38 No.7, pp.1 - 17

Received: 30 Jul 2025
Accepted: 03 Oct 2025
Published online: 01 Dec 2025 *

Title: Impacts of geographic region on knowledge spillover effects and innovation performance in healthcare

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