Title: Mapping knowledge territories for development policies

Authors: Francesca Gambarotto, Ettore Bolisani, Enrico Scarso

Addresses: Department of Economic Sciences, University of Padua, Via del Santo, 33-35123 Padova, Italy. ' DTG – Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padua, Stradella San Nicola, 3-36100 Vicenza, Italy. ' DTG – Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padua, Stradella San Nicola, 3-36100 Vicenza, Italy

Abstract: In an increasingly connected world, the studies of regional economic systems face new challenges. Notions like |knowledge asset|, |intellectual capital|, |and cognitive capability| are crucial to understand the trajectories of growth of local economies. But what identifies an economic system in cognitive terms? Are usual notions and approaches still relevant? How can we update them? Even though it is widely accepted that cognitive assets are a central resource for economic development, our understanding of the nature of |knowledge| and the way it can be handled for policy-making purposes is still insufficient. This reflects on policy-making approaches that often rest on the protection of tangible assets rather than the enhancement of cognitive potentials. The paper aims to explore the contribution that the field of knowledge management can give to the definition of novel approaches to mapping economic territories, and, accordingly, delineating new policy instruments.

Keywords: regional development; knowledge management; KM; intellectual capital; policymaking; knowledge territories; cognitive assets; knowledge-based development; regional policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2011.040624

International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 2011 Vol.2 No.1, pp.16 - 33

Received: 02 Oct 2010
Accepted: 28 Feb 2011
Published online: 07 Jun 2011 *

Full-text access for editors Access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article