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The importance of science for the development of new PV technologies in European regions

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  • Maria Tsouri
  • Ron Boschma

Abstract

Studies show that local capabilities contribute to the green transition, yet little attention has been devoted to the role of scientific capabilities. The paper assesses the importance of local scientific capabilities and the inflow of scientific knowledge from elsewhere for the ability of regions in Europe to diversify into photovoltaic (PV) segments during the period 1998 to 2015, employing a combined dataset on patents and scientific publications. We find that local scientific capabilities matter, but not so much the inflow of relevant scientific knowledge from other regions, as proxied by scientific citations of patents in PV segments. Regions are also likely to diversify into a PV segment when they have technological capabilities related to other PV segments. Finally, we found that European regions are less likely to lose an existing PV segment specialization when they have intra-regional and extra-regional scientific capabilities in this PV segment.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Tsouri & Ron Boschma, 2024. "The importance of science for the development of new PV technologies in European regions," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2410, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Apr 2024.
    • Handle: RePEc:egu:wpaper:2410
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    File URL: http://econ.geo.uu.nl/peeg/peeg2410.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    relatedness; photovoltaic technologies; green diversification; regional diversification; scientific capabilities; related scientific capabilities; inter-regional linkages; Europe;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O25 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Industrial Policy
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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