Distinctive proximities : between implicit and explicit knowledge in ICT and biotechnology innovation

This paper reports upon ESRC-funded findings on regional innovation and knowledge spillovers arising from a research spotlighting UK ICT and biotechnology firms. It appraises the basic question as to whether UK firms in clusters perform better on growth and innovation indicators than similar firms not in clusters. It also offers an advance in our understanding of the persistence and conceivable reinforcement of an asymmetric economic geography of prosperity and accomplishment, in an evolving and intensifying knowledge economy, science-driven and otherwise technologically sophisticated economic activity that gives rise to demands upon industry organisation that reinforce collaborative activity among smaller knowledge-intensive businesses.