Some Theoretical Topics on the Diffusion of Innovation within Industrial Districts: The case of ICT

The new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) represent an important challenge for SME. Especially in the context of local productive areas, this topic may be relevant as a new opportunity of competitiveness for the system as a whole. In this working paper, the focus is on the industrial districts’ case as a relevant and successful example of concentration of economic activities. It is first reviewed the large branch of literature, both economical and sociological, related to industrial districts. Then, it is discussed the problem of how to identify these concentrations. Finally, some theoretical remarks on the patterns of diffusion of innovation inside industrial districts are analysed.