regions. Our main research question is whether geographical proximity and social capital are important vehicles of knowledge … differences across European regions. We find support for the hypothesis that both social capital and geographical proximity are … important factors in explaining the differences in the production of innovative output across European regions. This discussion …

identified when estimating such model on a sample of 261 EU27 NUTS2 regions. Next, empirical results are interpreted in the light … patterns of connectivity between “islands” of innovation and other regions. On the basis of our empirical estimates, we claim … spatial innovation leaders and lagging regions. This situation may be characterised as targeting “hubs”, rather than “islands …