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Despite the growing acknowledgement that entrepreneurship is an important driver of regional innovation and growth, the role of the networks in these processes has been less formally examined. In order to address this gap, this paper proposes that the relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation and regional growth is governed by a series of network dynamics. Drawing upon aspects of endogenous growth theory and the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship, it is proposed that the nature of the networks formed by entrepreneurial firms is a key determinant of regional growth differentials. In particular, network capital, in the form of investments in strategic relations to gain access to knowledge, is considered to mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation-based regional growth. It is suggested that network dynamics should be further incorporated into theories concerning the link between knowledge spillovers, entrepreneurship and regional growth. The paper concludes with a series of theoretical, entrepreneurial and policy implications emerging from the study.

The need to better understand the mechanisms underlying regional growth patterns is widely recognised. This paper argues that regional growth is partly a function of the value created through inter-organisational flows of knowledge within and across regions. It is proposed that investment in calculative networks by organisations to access knowledge is a form of capital, termed network capital, which should be incorporated into regional growth models. The paper seeks to develop a framework to capture the value of network capital within these models based on the spatial configuration and the nature of the knowledge flowing through networks.

Despite a growing body of research on firm survival, little is known about the factors impacting upon survival rates at a micro-spatial level. This study, therefore, analyses firm survival across local environments in the context of a peripheral region; namely, the case of Wales in the UK. It examines how theories relating to human capital, growth motivation and locational conditions may explain survival within a region. Drawing on data of survival patterns for a cohort of firms, it is found that each of the three theories at least partly explain firm survival, with it being clear that human capital relating to the experience of entrepreneurs, as well as the growth motivation of their firms resulting from the strategic choices they make, impact upon rates of survival. It is also found that the local environment contributes to the likelihood of its survival. In particular, it is found that locational factors have a potential influence on the human capital allocated to enterprise, as well as how this capital is utilised via growth motivation. This suggests that not only do locational factors contribute to differing rates of entrepreneurship, but that such factors also impact on the durability of firms over time. Abstract Despite a growing body of research on firm survival, little is known about the factors impacting upon survival rates at a micro-spatial level. This study, therefore, analyses firm survival across local environments in the context of a peripheral region; namely, the case of Wales in the UK. It examines how theories relating to human capital, growth motivation and locational conditions may explain survival within a region. Drawing on data of survival patterns for a cohort of firms, it is found that each of the three theories at least partly explain firm survival, with it being clear that human capital relating to the experience of entrepreneurs, as well as the growth motivation of their firms resulting from the strategic choices they make, impact upon rates of survival. It is also found that the local environment contributes to the likelihood of its survival. In particular, it is found that locational factors have a potential influence on the human capital allocated to enterprise, as well as how this capital is utilised via growth motivation. This suggests that not only do locational factors contribute to differing rates of entrepreneurship, but that such factors also impact on the durability of firms over time.

Cultural factors are often absent from analyses of economic change and development, divorcing the nature of social places from the economic spaces within which they are situated. In response to this, the paper seeks to both conceptualise and operationalise a framework of place-based culture. It develops a framework capturing the economic culture and community culture of places, and examines the relationship between the two, as a means of developing a broader understanding of the notion of culture than is usually considered by the extant literature. Empirically, the paper utilises Wales as a reference region, with its culture compared to other regions of the UK, along with an analysis of cultural differences found across its localities. Overall, considerable variability is found in the cultural characteristics across both regions and across localities, with the type of community culture embedded in places often found to be associated with the prevailing economic culture in these places, suggesting a strong symbiotic association.

Entrepreneurship is increasingly acknowledged as an important factor underlying uneven economic geographies. Similarly, spatial patterns of entrepreneurship are increasingly considered to relate to the nature of the culture present within particular places. However, the nature of these relationships remains relatively unexplored, and this study addresses some of the gaps through both a theoretical and empirical examination of the association between socio-spatial culture and entrepreneurship. It develops the notion of community culture, and drawing on an analysis of data from localities in Great Britain it is found that a range of dimensions of socio-spatial community culture relating to social cohesion, collective action and social rules are found to be significantly associated with local entrepreneurial activity. Generally, localities in more economically developed regions are found to display more individualistic and diverse cultures. It is concluded that the findings represent a significant challenge for policymaking in less developed localities and regions, which generally have socio-spatial cultures high in communal and collective values but low rates of entrepreneurship.

This paper addresses the 'network' and 'open innovation' paradigms by seeking to examine the factors associated with structural positioning within university-industry networks. Drawing upon a network analysis of knowledge-based ties held by universities across the regions of the UK, it is found that those universities with the most central positions (network centrality) within university-industry network structures also have high rates of relational involvement in activities such as spin-off generation and engagement in externally funded research projects. Some forms of activity, in particular intellectual property protection through patenting, are found to be negatively associated with centrality. Spatial location is largely found to be unrelated to the network centrality of universities. By utilising network centrality as one measure of the open innovation capability of universities, the paper indicates that a range of institutional characteristics and factors tend to either promote or limit the engagement of universities in open innovation practices.

This paper examines localities in terms of the impact of community culture on the resilience of their entrepreneurial activity. Drawing on a regression analysis of data covering localities in Britain for the period 2004-2011, it is found that an open and diverse culture is likely to aid the renewal and re-orientation of local entrepreneurial activity. Overall, the study indicates that local social values play an important role in fostering entrepreneurial resilience. It is suggested that future policy intervention may be best targeted at the education system, where the tolerance and skill-sets underpinning entrepreneurial resilience can be most effectively developed.