Introduction: diversity, innovation and clusters – spatial perspectives

Regions are increasingly considered to be the areas driving economic development in the global economy. More and more researchers emphasize the link between, on the one hand, re_gional diversity and, on the other, regional knowledge, innovation and entrepreneur_ship. Research demonstrates that to increase the understanding of the multi_faceted dynamic relationships between diversity, innovation and clusters, there is a strong need to further focus on and investigate the spatial perspectives of these rela_tionships. Such investigations include identification and empirical testing of the mechanisms that may explain possible causal relationships. This is necessary from a scientific point of view, but also from the need to provide policy makers with a more comprehensive decision-making basis, since the spatial perspectives are crucial in understanding what drives economic development. By discussing these factors in this introductory chapter, we create a background and a foundation for the rest of the chapters in this edited volume.