Innovation and knowledge links in metropolitan regions: The case of Vienna

Abstract

Metropolitan regions are often key centers of research, education and business services, and tend to have excellent preconditions for innovation and knowledge based sectors. They often have a highly qualified workforce and provide access to specialized resources and inputs for innovation. Consequently these centers are regarded to be important nodes in the knowledge-based economy. However, there is also evidence showing that metropolitan regions may suffer from innovation problems such as missing knowledge linkages between science and business, or a lack of innovation culture. The metropolitan region of Vienna is an interesting case of in this context since its regional innovation system (RIS) is well endowed with knowledge organizations such as universities, specialized schools and research institutes in many fields. It is also a central location for business services, and well connected via a good transport and telecommunication infrastructure within Europe and beyond. Still, Vienna seems to have faced innovation problems in the past such as missing venture capital and weak relations between science and business. The aim of this chapter is to examine whether these past deficiencies of Vienna’s RIS are still characteristic features also of the new knowledge intensive industries such as ICT and biotech that have grown in the last few years in the region.