Work

Innovation in the periphery: Compensation and exploitation strategies

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Recent research has challenged the urban bias in economic geography and innovation studies, showing that highly innovative and competitive firms are also located in peripheral regions. So far, however, analyses has focused on how firms innovate despite their unfavourable location and little has been said about the innovation benefits of peripheral areas. Hence, this article identifies different compensation and exploitation strategies adopted by firms in order to overcome regional innovation constraints and to reap innovation benefits found in the periphery. Drawing on 20 in‐depth qualitative interviews with innovative firms situated in the Austrian periphery, our analysis reveals that innovation in peripheral regions is the outcome of a combination of compensation and exploitation practices. The uptake and composition of these strategies depend on the firm and regional characteristics, with firm size being the most influential factor.

Source: Growth and Change

DOI: 10.1111/grow.12328

Authors: Jakob Eder, Michaela Trippl

Institutions: University of Vienna, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Urban and Regional Research

Language: English

Topic: Regional Development and Innovation

Subfield: Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,500