The learning region offers a new perspective on the dynamics of change which shape the economy. This book examines the transformation of the modern economy into one in which knowledge is the most important resource and learning the most important process for economic growth. In the modern economy, successful firms, as well as governments, are those which have control over and access to flows of information and knowledge of technologies, markets, and organizational and managerial practices. In order to examine this, the authors apply innovation, industrial network and institutional theories to the many factors which together constitute learning regions: regional innovation policy, geographical clusters of collaborating firms and the role of research centres in the innovative potential of regions. They find that the learning region paradigm opens new possibilities for research and policy and use case studies in Germany, Holland and Belgium to illustrate these possibilities. The authors also examine European Union and regional government policy on innovation and regional development. Finally, they examine inter-firm and intra-firm collaboration and regional business and innovation systems. This innovative new book will prove invaluable to regional scientists, economic geographers and regional planners.

Cooperation and clusters have become the guiding paradigms for explaining and promoting regional competitiveness, but the cooperation process between firms and universities and the transfer of knowledge in guiding and nurturing regional competitiveness has received relatively little attention. This book strives to fill this gap in highlighting the connection between inter-firm cooperation in regional clusters, innovation and regional networks, and the role of universities in them . It goes beyond the traditional economic approach of clusters and includes 'soft factors' in the explanation of regional competitiveness, and connects the literature on clusters to the literature of learning and knowledge creation as sources of regional competitiveness. It aims to foster an international and interdisciplinary exchange of perspectives by presenting current developments, case studies, best practices as well as new integrated theoretical approaches and applications.

The social dynamics of innovation networks captures the important role of trust, social capital, institutions and norms and values in the creation of knowledge in innovation networks. In doing so, this book connects to a long-standing debate on the socio-spatial context of innovation in economic geography, which is usually referred to as the Territorial Models of Innovation (TIMs) literature. This present volume breaks with the TIM literature in several important ways. In the first place, this book emphasizes the role of individual agency because individuals and their networks are increasingly recognized as the principal agents of knowledge creation. Secondly, this volume looks at space as a continuous field of opportunity rather than as bounded territory with a set of endowments, such as knowledge base and social capital. Although individually these elements are not new to the TIM literature, it has thus far failed to grasp their critical implication for studying the social dynamics of innovation networks. The approach to the socio-spatial context of innovation in this volume is summarized as Knowledge Economy 2.0. It emphasizes that human creativity is now the main source of economic value and that human creativity and knowledge creation is not an organized process within organizations, but happens bottom up in formal and informal professional and social networks of individuals that cut across multiple organizations.

This superb new book develops a knowledge-based theory of innovation, marrying three streams of literature: innovation, inter-firm collaboration and networks, and learning regions. This book will interest all those working in economic geography and the economics of innovation.

Contents:
1. Introduction: Knowledge, networks, and space
2. Provoking academic inquiry
3. Knowledge, learning, and innovation
4. Learning, networks, and space
5. Framework for analysis
6. Analysis of the KIC project
7. Conclusion and reflection

This exhaustive study from an experienced and respected set of editors and authors looks at the impact that universities have on their surroundings, with particular reference to regional development. With contributions from such leading scholars as Peter Maskell and Gunnar Törnqvist, this book will be of great interest to students and academics involved in regional economics, economic geography and innovation studies.

The book aims to identify key issues and developments in ASEAN-5 that illustrate the transition of this region towards a knowledge-based economy. The book contributes to understanding the opportunities and challenges faced by emerging economies. It explains the transition process from a knowledge based perspective, showing how knowledge creation and innovation contribute to the competitiveness of companies and sectors in this region. The book takes a distinctly ASEAN perspective by discussing examples of the transition process from all ASEAN 5 nations that show how this region is attempting to link up to the global knowledge economy of the 21st Century. To achieve these aims the book is divided into three parts, preceded by an introductory chapter explaining the logic, objectives and contributions of the book. Part I discusses ASEAN-5 as an emerging hub in the global economy. Part II discusses the global links of the ASEAN region. Part III highlights innovation support in the ASEAN region. Each part identifies key developments and discusses relevant challenges and opportunities regarding the economic transition process based on examples for the various ASEAN-5 nations. The book contributes to the literature on emerging economies by explaining their challenges and opportunities of the catching-up process from a knowledge-based perspective. It is definitely a must-read.

Cooperation and clusters have become the guiding paradigms for explaining and promoting regional competitiveness, but the cooperation process between firms and universities and the transfer of knowledge in guiding and nurturing regional competitiveness has received relatively little attention. This book strives to fill this gap in highlighting the connection between inter-firm cooperation in regional clusters, innovation and regional networks, and the role of universities in them . It goes beyond the traditional economic approach of clusters and includes 'soft factors' in the explanation of regional competitiveness, and connects the literature on clusters to the literature of learning and knowledge creation as sources of regional competitiveness. It aims to foster an international and interdisciplinary exchange of perspectives by presenting current developments, case studies, best practices as well as new integrated theoretical approaches and applications.

The social dynamics of innovation networks captures the important role of trust, social capital, institutions and norms and values in the creation of knowledge in innovation networks. In doing so, this book connects to a long-standing debate on the socio-spatial context of innovation in economic geography, which is usually referred to as the Territorial Models of Innovation (TIMs) literature. This present volume breaks with the TIM literature in several important ways. In the first place, this book emphasizes the role of individual agency because individuals and their networks are increasingly recognized as the principal agents of knowledge creation. Secondly, this volume looks at space as a continuous field of opportunity rather than as bounded territory with a set of endowments, such as knowledge base and social capital. Although individually these elements are not new to the TIM literature, it has thus far failed to grasp their critical implication for studying the social dynamics of innovation networks. The approach to the socio-spatial context of innovation in this volume is summarized as Knowledge Economy 2.0. It emphasizes that human creativity is now the main source of economic value and that human creativity and knowledge creation is not an organized process within organizations, but happens bottom up in formal and informal professional and social networks of individuals that cut across multiple organizations.

The book aims to identify key issues and developments in ASEAN-5 that illustrate the transition of this region towards a knowledge-based economy. The book contributes to understanding the opportunities and challenges faced by emerging economies. It explains the transition process from a knowledge based perspective, showing how knowledge creation and innovation contribute to the competitiveness of companies and sectors in this region. The book takes a distinctly ASEAN perspective by discussing examples of the transition process from all ASEAN 5 nations that show how this region is attempting to link up to the global knowledge economy of the 21st Century. To achieve these aims the book is divided into three parts, preceded by an introductory chapter explaining the logic, objectives and contributions of the book. Part I discusses ASEAN-5 as an emerging hub in the global economy. Part II discusses the global links of the ASEAN region. Part III highlights innovation support in the ASEAN region. Each part identifies key developments and discusses relevant challenges and opportunities regarding the economic transition process based on examples for the various ASEAN-5 nations. The book contributes to the literature on emerging economies by explaining their challenges and opportunities of the catching-up process from a knowledge-based perspective. It is definitely a must-read.

This exhaustive study from an experienced and respected set of editors and authors looks at the impact that universities have on their surroundings, with particular reference to regional development. With contributions from such leading scholars as Peter Maskell and Gunnar Tornqvist, this book will be of great interest to students and academics involved in regional economics, economic geography and innovation studies."

The aim of this book is to present a much-needed conceptualization of 'the learning region'. The editors scrutinize key concepts and issues surrounding this phenomenon, which are then discussed in the context of recent literature. This unique conceptualization of the learning region presents a state of the art exploration of theories. Leading scholars from across Europe, the USA and South Africa draw upon various disciplines to explain how regional actors perform regional learning, including: regional networks, industrial districts, the systems innovation approach, social capital and economic geography. Contrary to competing theories, this study takes a relational approach to the learning region. The book thus focuses on learning between regional actors and the ongoing relations they have not only with each other, but also with other actors in their regional social context. Providing path-breaking theory development in the fields of innovation and regional science and economic geography, this highly original, multidisciplinary study will prove invaluable for students, academics and researchers. Regional policymakers will also find much to interest them within this book.