The Spatial Evolution of Innovation Networks: A Proximity Perspective

Proximity, network formation and inventive performance: in search of the proximity paradox

“…Our findings partly support the proximity paradox emphasized by Frenken and Boschma (2009) and Broekel and Boschma (2011). First, we find that proximity variables, in every declination testedsocial, geographical, technological and organizational -have a positive impact on establishing collaborations.…”

“…The so--called "proximity paradox" argues that the drivers of network formation should be distinguished from the determinants of innovative performance. If proximity and network embeddedness clearly explain the formation of network relations (Autant--Bernard, et al 2007;Cassi and Plunket, 2012), interactive learning and knowledge flows (Agrawal et al 2006;Breschi and Lissoni, 2009), they may not necessarily benefit innovative performance, they may even be harmful for interactive learning (Boschma, and Frenken, 2009). This paper aims to empirically investigate the proximity paradox.…”

“…While a high degree of proximity, whatever defined, and network embeddedness are main drivers of network formation and knowledge diffusion, the impact on innovative performance is rather ambiguous, "since proximity between actors does not necessarily translate into higher innovative performance" (Boschma and Frenken, 2009). The so--called "proximity paradox" argues that the drivers of network formation should be distinguished from the determinants of innovative performance.…”

“…Using patent citations as a proxy for patent quality, we investigate how the network and proximity characteristics of co--inventors enable them to access different sources of knowledge, in different geographical and organizational contexts, and finally affect the quality of inventive collaboration. Our findings enable to address the proximity paradox, which states that proximity facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing, but it does not necessarily increase innovative performance, too much proximity may even harm innovation (Boschma and Frenken, 2009;Broekel and Boschma, 2011). …”

Does intentional mean hierarchical? Knowledge flows and innovative performance of European regions

“…Econometric analysis of spatial autocorrelation phenomena is well diffused in the innovation literature, and use of alternative measures of technological, institutional, social and organizational neighbours has been discussed in depth (Torre and Gilly 2000;Boschma 2005;Cantner and Meder 2007;Boschma and Frenken 2009;Ponds et al 2007Ponds et al , 2010Marrocu et al 2013a). However, the innovative and explorative contribution of this paper consists of identifying an estimation method which considers the research object rather than the research network to compute an alternative measure of proximity.…”