Regional Innovation Systems : The Integration of Local 'Sticky' and Global 'Ubiquitous' Knowledge

This paper investigates ways in which firms in three Norwegian regional clusters, dominated by shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, and the electronics industry, use both place-specific, local knowledge resources, and external, world-class knowledge to increase their competitiveness.The three case studies point to the significance of a multilevel approach to innovation systems and technology transfer. However, there are differences between the three clusters in how firms came to use global, national, and regional/local resources in innovation processes. Different types of regional innovation systems are considered: the territorially embedded regional innovation network; the regional networked innovation system; and the regionalized national innovation system. Four distinct conclusions emerge from the study: (1) that the ideal-typical regional innovation system (regional clusters surrounded by supporting organizations) is uncommon in Norway; (2) that external contacts outside the local industrial environment are very important in innovation processes in many smaller firms; (3) innovation processes may be regarded as regional phenomena in regional clusters since regional resources and collaborative networks have decisive significance in firms' innovative activity; and (4) regional resources include place-specific, contextual knowledge of both tacit and codified knowledge, which is geographically immobile. The use of external competence networks in all three clusters suggests the importance of national innovation systems, the existence of world class national research groups, and collaboration with global actors. It is concluded that innovation activity is also a regional phenomenon, and the importance of localized knowledge is stressed.(CBS)