Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geographical and sectoral clusters of innovation in Europe

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
The Annals of Regional Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper we attempt to provide empirical evidence on the phenomenon of cluster agglomeration of innovation activities throughout time and space in European regions. More specifically we try to assess whether there are some forces which support the development of technologically specialised regional clusters. In particular we want to determine the spatial extent of these forces, their dynamics along the eighties and nineties and their connection with production clustering. We have started from a mapping of innovation activity in European regions by means of an exploratory spatial analysis based on global indicators of spatial dependence. As a result, in a second step, we check the hypothesis that innovation concentration can be a result not only of the geographic concentration of production but also of the development of technologically specialised clusters in neighbouring regions. The analysis is based on a databank set up by CRENoS on regional patenting at the European Patent Office spanning from 1978 to 2001 and classified by ISIC sectors and on the Cambridge Econometrics database on production activity. Among the main results, it is shown that specialisation in innovative activity is positively and significantly influenced by specialisation in production activity. Additionally, it is obtained that innovation tends to cluster more in sectors in which the neighbouring regions are also technologically specialised.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Map 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Map 2
Map 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Additional to the possibility of externalities crossing geographical barriers of regions due to proximity in space, interregional spillovers may take place due to other reasons such as the volume of trade between each pair of regions or their economic similarity.

  2. Note that since 2000 there is an important initiative called European trend chart on innovation which provides several indicators on innovation (based on input and output data and on the CIS survey) at the regional level and a synthetic measure of them. Unfortunately, the time and the sectoral dimension of such a database are rather limited. Nevertheless for the time being this database is going to become more and more a crucial point of reference for the analysis in this field.

  3. It should be noted that R&D statistics provide other interesting information concerning the origin of the expenditure. R&D statistics are, as a matter of fact, usually divided into categories such as business, university and government.

  4. For instance, the headquarter of Enichem, the Italian petroleum and chemical multinational, is located in Milan (Lombardia) but the innovative activity (as indicated by the residence of the inventors) is much more dispersed due to the presence of several plants in other regions (e.g. Veneto, Sicilia, Liguria and Sardegna).

  5. Eurostat classification list four categories of territorial units: 15 NUTS 0 nations; 77 NUTS 1 regions, 206 NUTS 2 regions and 1031 NUTS 3 regions.

  6. The perfect territorial unit is difficult to be found since administrative units do not necessarily reflect economic phenomena. Better territorial units used in the empirical literature are the functional urban region just for main urban centres at the European level (Cheshire 1990), the local labour system in Italy (Paci and Usai, 1999) or the basin d’emploi in France (Combes, 2000).

  7. The original YTC was conceived by Evenson et al. (1991). Updates to the YTC have been programmed by Daniel Johnson who kindly provides downloadable conversion tables and detailed explanations on the procedures at the Internet address: http://faculty1.coloradocollege.edu/~djohnson/jeps.html.

  8. Throughout the paper patents per capita are used, even though main results do not change if one uses the absolute value of patents.

  9. This phenomenon is partly due to a shift of patent applications by European firms from National patenting offices to the European one.

  10. Scatter maps for other periods not reported in the paper are available on request.

  11. Other specifications have been estimated to assess for the presence of a relationship between innovative specialisation of one region and productive specialisation in contiguous regions but results were not significant. Similarly, some attempts to evaluate the presence of different coefficients for each macro-sector by means of interactive dummies have not provided interesting results, probably due to the aggregate nature of our data.

References

  • Anselin L (1988) Spatial econometrics: methods and models. Kluwer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Audretsch D, Feldman M (1996) R&D spillovers and the geography of innovation and production. Am Econ Rev 86:631–640

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin RE, Martin P (2004) Agglomeration and regional growth, In: V Henderson, JF Thisse (eds) Handbook of regional and urban economics: cities and geography. North-Holland

  • Bottazzi L, Peri G (2003), Innovation and spillovers in regions: evidence from European patent data. Eur Econ Rev 47:687–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breschi S (2000) The geography of innovation: a cross-sector analysis. Reg Stud 34:213–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burridge P (1980) On the Cliff–Ord test for spatial autocorrelation. J R Stat Soc B 42:107–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Caniels M (2000) Knowledge spillovers and economic growth, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheshire P (1990) Explaining the performance of the European Community’s major urban regions. Urban Stud 27:311–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciccone A (2002) Agglomeration effects in Europe. Eur Econ Rev 46:213–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coe D, Helpman E (1995) International R&D spillovers. Eur Econ Rev 39:859–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Combes P (2000) Economic structure and local growth: France, 1984–1993. J Urban Econ 47:329–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evenson RE, Putnam J, Kortum S (1991) Estimating patent counts by industry using the Yale–Canada concordance, Final Report to the National Science Foundation

  • Florax RJ, Folmer H, Rey S (2003) Specification searches in spatial econometrics: the relevance of Hendry’s methodology. Reg Sci Urban Econ 33:557–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griliches Z (1990) Patent statistics as economic indicators: a survey. J Econ Lit 28:1661–1707

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman G, Helpman E (1991) Trade, knowledge spillovers, and growth. Eur Econ Rev 35:517–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe AB, Trajtenberg M, Henderson R (1993) Geographic localization of knowledge spillovers as evidenced by patent citations. Q J Econ 63:577–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller W (2002) Geographic localization of international technology diffusion. Am Econ Rev 92:120–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mariani M (2002) Next to Production or to technological clusters? The economics and management of R&D location. J Manag Gov 131–152

  • Martin P, Ottaviano G (2001) Growth and agglomeration. Int Econ Rev 42:947–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moran P (1948) The interpretation of statistical maps. J R Stat Soc 10:243–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreno R, Paci R, Usai S (2005) Spatial spillovers and innovation activity in European regions, Environ Plann A (forthcoming)

  • Paci R, Usai S (1999) Externalities, Knowledge Spillovers and the Spatial Distribution of Innovation. GeoJournal 49:381–390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paci R, Usai S (2000) Technological enclaves and industrial districts. An analysis of the regional distribution of innovative activity in Europe. Reg Stud 34:97–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storper M (1995) Regional technology coalitions an essential dimension of national technology policy. Res Policy 24:895–911

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varga A, Anselin L, Acs Z (2005) Regional Innovation in the US over Space and Time, In: G Maier, S Sedlacek (eds) Spillovers and Innovation, Springer, Wien

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Hipple E (1994) Sticky information and the locus problem solving: implications for innovation. Manag Sci 40:429–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Barbara Dettori for excellent research assistance. We have benefited from useful comments by participants at the 2004 ERSA conference, COST Action 17 meetings in Prague and Kaunas and seminars in Barcelona and Cagliari. This paper is the result of a joint research project developed within the COST-Action 17. Financial support by MIUR (COFIN 2002 project n. 2002138187_02) and DGICYT SEC2002-00165 are gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. AQR - Regional Quantitative Analysis Research Group, Department of Econometrics and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Diagonal, 690, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Rosina Moreno

  2. CRENoS, University of Cagliari, Via S. Ignazio 78, 09123, Cagliari, Italy

    Raffaele Paci & Stefano Usai

Authors
  1. Rosina Moreno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Raffaele Paci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stefano Usai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosina Moreno.

Appendices

Appendix

European Regions in CRENoS database (Id-CRENoS; Id-Nuts; Region; Nuts level)

1

AT11

Burgenland

2

2

AT12

Niederosterreich

2

3

AT13

Wien

2

4

AT21

Karnten

2

5

AT22

Steiermark

2

6

AT31

Oberosterreich

2

7

AT32

Salzburg

2

8

AT33

Tirol

2

9

AT34

Vorarlberg

2

10

BE1

Bruxelles-Brussel

1

11

BE2

Vlaams Gewest

1

12

BE3

Region Walonne

1

13

CH01

Region Lemanique

2

14

CH02

Espace Mittelland

2

15

CH03

Nordwestschweiz

2

16

CH04

Zurich

2

17

CH05

Ostschweiz

2

18

CH06

Zentralschweiz

2

19

CH07

Ticino

2

20

DE11

Stuttgart

2

21

DE12

Karlsruhe

2

22

DE13

Freiburg

2

23

DE14

Tubingen

2

24

DE21

Oberbayern

2

25

DE22

Niederbayern

2

26

DE23

Oberpfalz

2

27

DE24

Oberfranken

2

28

DE25

Mittelfranken

2

29

DE26

Unterfranken

2

30

DE27

Schwaben

2

31

DE3

Berlin

2

32

DE4

Brandenburg

2

33

DE5

Bremen

2

34

DE6

Hamburg

2

35

DE71

Darmstadt

2

36

DE72

Giessen

2

37

DE73

Kassel

2

38

DE8

Mecklenburg-Vorpomm

2

39

DE91

Braunschweig

2

40

DE92

Hannover

2

41

DE93

Luneburg

2

42

DE94

Weser-Ems

2

43

DEA1

Dusseldorf

2

44

DEA2

Koln

2

45

DEA3

Munster

2

46

DEA4

Detmold

2

47

DEA5

Arnsberg

2

48

DEB1

Koblenz

2

49

DEB2

Trier

2

50

DEB3

Rheinhessen-Pfalz

2

51

DEC

Saarland

2

52

DED1

Chemnitz

2

53

DED2

Dresden

2

54

DED3

Leipzig

2

55

DEE1

Dessau

2

56

DEE2

Halle

2

57

DEE3

Magdeburg

2

58

DEF

Schleswig-Holstein

2

59

DEG

Thuringen

2

60

DK

DENMARK

0

61

ES11

Galicia

2

62

ES12

Asturias

2

63

ES13

Cantabria

2

64

ES21

Pais Vasco

2

65

ES22

Navarra

2

66

ES23

Rioja

2

67

ES24

Aragon

2

68

ES3

Madrid

2

69

ES41

Castilla-Leon

2

70

ES42

Castilla-la Mancha

2

71

ES43

Extremadura

2

72

ES51

Cataluna

2

73

ES52

Com. Valenciana

2

74

ES61

Andalucia

2

75

ES62

Murcia

2

76

FI13

Ita-Suomi

2

77

FI14

Vali-Suomi

2

78

FI15

Pohjois-Suomi

2

79

FI16

Uusimaa

2

80

FI17

Etela-Suomi

2

81

FI2

Aland

2

82

FR1

Ile de France

2

83

FR21

Champagne-Ard

2

84

FR22

Picardie

2

85

FR23

Haute-Normandie

2

86

FR24

Centre

2

87

FR25

Basse-Normandie

2

88

FR26

Bourgogne

2

89

FR3

Nord-Pas de Calais

2

90

FR41

Lorraine

2

91

FR42

Alsace

2

92

FR43

Franche-Comte

2

93

FR51

Pays de la Loire

2

94

FR52

Bretagne

2

95

FR53

Poitou-Charentes

2

96

FR61

Aquitaine

2

97

FR62

Midi-Pyrenees

2

98

FR63

Limousin

2

99

FR71

Rhone-Alpes

2

100

FR72

Auvergne

2

101

FR81

Languedoc-Rouss

2

102

FR82

Prov-Alpes−Cote d’Azur

2

103

FR83

Corse

2

104

GR11

Anatoliki Makedonia

2

105

GR12

Kentriki Makedonia

2

106

GR13

Dytiki Makedonia

2

107

GR14

Thessalia

2

108

GR21

Ipeiros

2

109

GR22

Ionia Nisia

2

110

GR23

Dytiki Ellada

2

111

GR24

Sterea Ellada

2

112

GR25

Peloponnisos

2

113

GR3

Attiki

2

114

GR41

Voreio Aigaio

2

115

GR42

Notio Aigaio

2

116

GR43

Kriti

2

117

IE01

Border

2

118

IE02

Southern and Eastern

2

119

IT11

Piemonte

2

120

IT12

Valle d’Aosta

2

121

IT13

Liguria

2

122

IT2

Lombardia

2

123

IT31

Trentino-Alto Adige

2

124

IT32

Veneto

2

125

IT33

Fr.-Venezia Giulia

2

126

IT4

Emilia-Romagna

2

127

IT51

Toscana

2

128

IT52

Umbria

2

129

IT53

Marche

2

130

IT6

Lazio

2

131

IT71

Abruzzo

2

132

IT72

Molise

2

133

IT8

Campania

2

134

IT91

Puglia

2

135

IT92

Basilicata

2

136

IT93

Calabria

2

137

ITA

Sicilia

2

138

ITB

Sardegna

2

139

LU

LUXEMBOURG

0

140

NL1

Noord-Nederland

1

141

NL2

Oost-Nederland

1

142

NL3

West-Nederland

1

143

NL4

Zuid-Nederland

1

144

NO01

Oslo og Akershus

2

145

NO02

Hedmark og Oppland

2

146

NO03

Sor-Ostlandet

2

147

NO04

Agder og Rogaland

2

148

NO05

Vestlandet

2

149

NO06

Trondelag

2

150

NO07

Nord-Norge

2

151

PT11

Norte

2

152

PT12

Centro

2

153

PT13

Lisboa e V.do Tejo

2

154

PT14

Alentejo

2

155

PT15

Algarve

2

156

SE01

Stockholm

2

157

SE02

Ostra Mellansverige

2

158

SE04

Sydsverige

2

159

SE06

Norra Mellansverige

2

160

SE07

Mellersta Norrland

2

161

SE08

Ovre Norrland

2

162

SE09

Smaland med oarna

2

163

SE0A

Vastsverige

2

164

UKC

North East

1

165

UKD

North West

1

166

UKE

Yorkshire and the Humber

1

167

UKF

East Midlands

1

168

UKG

West Midlands

1

169

UKH

Eastern

1

170

UKI

London

1

171

UKJ

South East

1

172

UKK

South West

1

173

UKL

Wales

1

174

UKM

Scotland

1

175

UKN

Northern Ireland

1

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moreno, R., Paci, R. & Usai, S. Geographical and sectoral clusters of innovation in Europe. Ann Reg Sci 39, 715–739 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-005-0021-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-005-0021-y

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation