Doloreux D. (2004) Regional innovation systems in Canada: a comparative study. Reg. Studies 38, 481-494. The Regional Innovation System (RIS) has become a leading approach in explaining the innovation processes and patterns experienced by firms and industries at the regional level. This paper investigates the innovation activities of small and medium sized enterprises in different regions, assesses the extent of their involvement in systemic innovation with other organizations, and examines the nature of regional and more diffused forms of interaction in innovation activity. The discussion draws its empirical substance from the Ottawa and Beauce regions of Canada, regions characterized by different preconditions to innovation in terms of industrial production structure and institutional environments. The results indicate that the innovation activities of surveyed firms in the two regions converge into a similar pattern, as far as innovation practices, information sources and the role of geography are concerned. In addition, the significance of the region as a support to innovation is not confirmed; firms make use of regional, national and even global knowledge sources to sustain innovation.Regional Innovation Systems, Innovation, Network Beauce, Ottawa, Systemes regionaux d'innovation, Innovation Reseau, Beauce, Ottawa, Regionale Innovationssysteme, Innovation, Netzwerk, Beauce, Ottawa, Sistemas de Innovacion Regional (SIR), Innovacion, Redes, Beauce, Ottawa,
