Title: 'Localness' is good for business? An intellectual capital-based perspective in the Italian food industry

Authors: Silvia Massa, Stefania Testa

Addresses: Department of Communication, Computer and System Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. ' Department of Communication, Computer and System Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

Abstract: This paper investigates the ability of local food producers to exploit the elements of regional Intellectual Capital (IC) embedded in local food systems in order to gain a competitive advantage. This paper analyses how an appropriate use of regional IC, combined with organisational IC, can increase firms| competitive advantage. The focus is on the interaction between regional IC and organisational IC so as to reach a higher collective yield of competitiveness, that is, an IC multiplier effect. The existence of a feedback effect is also examined, that is, whether the success of firms taking advantage of regional IC contributes to the success of the local area, thus initiating a virtuous cycle.

Keywords: intellectual capital; organisational IC; regional IC; KM; knowledge management; local food producers; localness; Italy; food industry; innovation; regional development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2008.020847

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.192 - 209

Published online: 17 Oct 2008 *

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