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Co-operation over distance? The spatial dimension of inter-organizational innovation collaboration

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  • Anja Dettmann
  • Sidonia Proff
  • Thomas Brenner

Abstract

In the literature, there is a controversy about the role of space in innovation collaboration. With a longitudinal study of 47 inter-organizational innovation groups in Germany, we examine the link between the spatial composition of group members and group characteristics that are important to perform innovation projects. Hence, conceptually and methodologically, we use social-psychological concepts in the field of spatial economics. We find that the share of regional partners is per se not a determining factor for the formation of a functional working group with the necessary characteristics to be successful. But very often regional groups are small and show shortcomings in their partner structure. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Anja Dettmann & Sidonia Proff & Thomas Brenner, 2015. "Co-operation over distance? The spatial dimension of inter-organizational innovation collaboration," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 729-753, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:25:y:2015:i:4:p:729-753
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-015-0414-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Rossi, Federica & Caloffi, Annalisa & Russo, Margherita, 2016. "Networked by design: Can policy requirements influence organisations' networking behaviour?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 203-214.
    2. Annalisa Caloffi & Federica Rossi & Margherita Russo, 2015. "What Makes SMEs more Likely to Collaborate? Analysing the Role of Regional Innovation Policy," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7), pages 1245-1264, July.
    3. Ye Xu & Jie Zhu & Changqi Tao, 2021. "The mechanism of technological potential energy driving Industry-University-Research institution collaborative innovation," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1541-1567, December.
    4. Gulizhaer Aisaiti & Qi Dong & Ling Liang & Jiqing Xie & Jiaping Xie, 2022. "How the Target Positioning of the S&T Innovation Platform Impacts Its Network Innovation Capability in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-29, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation collaboration; Collaboration over distance; Innovation groups; L14; R12; O38;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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