The aim of this paper is to investigate the spatial pattern of knowledge links in traditional, long-established, and less-research-intensive sectors and to contribute to a better understanding of the role of the regional innovation system (RIS) as space for knowledge-sourcing activities in such industries. Departing from conceptual work on the science, technology, and innovation (STI) and the doing, using, and interacting (DUI) modes of learning, it is argued that the relation between mature industries and their RIS depends on the relative importance of these two innovation modes and their specific geographies of knowledge-sourcing activities. The empirical focus is on the food industry in the Vienna metropolitan region. Based on ten case studies of firms and ten interviews with research organisations and industry experts, it is suggested that innovation rests on a combination of the DUI and the STI modes of learning. This is related with a complex spatial pattern of knowledge links and a selective integration of innovative food companies into the RIS. The firms investigated use scientific knowledge available within the RIS and tap into extraregional pools of experience-based knowledge.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AsheimB, 2007, “Differentiated knowledge bases and varieties of regional innovation systems”Innovation20223–241
2.
AsheimBGertlerM, 2005, “Regional innovation systems and the geographical foundations of innovation”, in The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Eds FagerbergJMoweryDNelsonR (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 291–317
3.
AvermaeteTViaeneJMorganEPittsECrawfordNMahonD, 2004, “Determinants of product and process innovation in small food manufacturing firms”Trends in Food Science and Technology15474–483
4.
BatheltHMalmbergAMaskellP, 2004, “Clusters and knowledge: Local buzz, global pipelines and the process of knowledge creation”Progress in Human Geography2831–56
5.
BMLFUW, 2008Lebenmittelbericht ÖsterreichBundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft [Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management], Vienna
6.
CappellinRWinkR, 2009International Knowledge and Innovation Networks. Knowledge Creation and Innovation in Medium-technology Clusters (Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, Glos)
7.
ChristensenJ, 2008, “Knowledge sourcing for product innovation in the Danish food industry”, in Handbook of Innovation in the Food and Drink Industry Ed. RamaR (Haworth Press, New York) pp 297–322
8.
FIAA, 2010Aktuelle Entwicklung der österreichischen Lebensmittelindustrie sowie des Agraraußenhandels Österreichs im Jahr 2010 (Fachverband der Lebensmittelindustrie, Vienna)
9.
FischerMDiezRevilla JSnickarsF, 2001Metropolitan Innovation Systems (Springer, New York)
10.
FlyvbjergB, 2006, “Five misunderstandings about case-study research”Qualitative Inquiry12219–245
11.
FryerPVersteegC, 2008, “Processing technology innovation in the food industry”Innovation: Management, Policy and Practice1074–90
12.
GellynckXVermeireBViaeneJ, 2007, “Innovation in food firms: Contribution of regional networks within the international business context”Entrepreneurship and Regional Development19209–226
13.
GertlerMWolfeD, 2006, “Spaces of knowledge flows: Clusters in a global context”, in Clusters and Regional Development: Critical Reflections and Explorations Eds AsheimBCookePMartinR (Routledge, London) pp 218–235
14.
HeidenreichM, 2009, “Innovation patterns and location of European low- and medium-technology industries”Research Policy38483–494
15.
Hirsch-KreinsenH, 2008, “Low-tech innovations”Industry and Innovation1519–43
16.
IsaksenAKarlsenJ, 2011, “Changing regional collaboration relations in a global economy—a case study of the oil and gas equipment cluster in Agder”, in Creating Collaborative Advantage: Innovation and Knowledge Creation in Small Open Economies Eds JohnsenHEnnalsR (Gower, Aldershot, Hants) forthcoming
17.
JensenM.B.JohnsonBLorenzELundvallB.A., 2007, “Forms of knowledge and modes of innovation”Research Policy36680–693
18.
JohnsenIIsaksenA, 2011, “Social capital, knowledge flows and collaboration. Example from the Agder region, Norway”, in Creating Collaborative Advantage: Innovation and Knowledge Creation in Small Open Economies Eds JohnsenHEnnalsR (Gower, Aldershot, Hants) forthcoming
19.
KarantininisKSauerJFurtanHartley W, 2010, “Innovations and integration in the agri-food industry”Food Policy35112–120
20.
MenradK, 2004, “Innovations in the food industry in Germany”Research Policy33845–874
21.
NielsenR, 2008, “Feeding food producers with (regional) knowledge for innovation?”, WP 13, Department of Business Studies, Aalborg University
22.
OECD, 1984, Science and Technology Indicators, No. 2: R&D, Innovation and Competitiveness (OECD, Paris)
23.
PollanW, 1996, “Der Verlauf der Verbraucherpreise nach dem EU-Beitritt”WIFO Monatsberichte number 9/1996 (Vienna)
24.
RadauerAStreicherJ, 2007, “Low-tech, innovation and state aid: The Austrian case”International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal3247–261
25.
RammerCCzarnitzkiDSpielkampA, 2009, “Innovation success of non-R&D performers: Substituting technology by management in SMEs”Small Business Economics3335–58
26.
DiezRevilla J, 2002, “Metropolitan innovation systems: A comparison between Barcelona, Stockholm, and Vienna”International Regional Science Review2563–85
27.
RobertsonPPatelP, 2007, “New wine in old bottles: Technology diffusion in developed economies”Research Policy36708–721
28.
RobertsonPSmithK, 2008, “Distributed knowledge bases in low- and medium-technology industries”, in Innovation in Low-tech Firms and Industries Ed. Hirsch-KreinsenH (Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, Glos) pp 93–117
29.
RobertsonPSmithKvon TunzelmannN, 2009, “Introduction. Innovation in low- and medium-technology industries”Research Policy38441–446
30.
StatistikAustria, 2009Hauptergebnisse der Leistungs- und Strukturstatistik 2007Statistik Austria, Vienna
31.
StorperM, 1997The Regional World (Guilford, New York)
32.
TödtlingFTripplM, 2005, “One size fits all? Towards a differentiated regional innovation policy approach”Research Policy341203–1219
33.
TödtlingFLehnerPTripplM, 2006, “Innovation in knowledge intensive industries: The nature and geography of knowledge links”European Planning Studies141035–1058
34.
TrabalziF, 2007, “Crossing conventions in localized food networks: Insights from southern Italy”Environment and Planning A39283–300
35.
TraillWMeulenbergM, 2002, “Innovation in the food industry”Agribusiness181–21
36.
TripplMTödtlingF, 2007, “Developing biotechnology clusters in non-high technology regions. The case of Austria”Industry and Innovation1427–47
37.
TripplMTödtlingFLengauerL, 2009, “Knowledge sourcing beyond buzz and pipelines: Evidence from the Vienna Software Cluster”Economic Geography85443–462
38.
van TunzelmannNAchaV, 2005, “Innovation in low-tech industries”, in The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Eds FagerbergJMoweryDNelsonR (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 407–432
