Greek regions and cities in the knowledge economy: the dominance of large cities and their regions

This paper examines the development of new knowledge and the production of innovation across Greek regions and cities towards the establishment of a knowledge economy. We rely on patent data and we try to bring more light into an area that has been little studied in Greece. Our analysis confirms the theoretical and empirical argument of both concentration and importance of large-urban regions and particular cities. Few Greek large cities and some cities related to the metropolitan area of 'Attiki' concentrate most of knowledge creation and innovation production. These regions and cities are also the major economic, industrial and commercial centres, while most of Greeks live there. Our results could be used in the development of both regional policy and management, aiming at strengthening Greek regions and cities and supporting and encouraging knowledge creation and innovation production.