Networks in the innovation process

Abstract

This chapter reviews the importance of networks in the innovation process from a spatial perspective. Such networks are part of different scale systems of innovation and are essential to the creation of knowledge externalities. It is well established in the extant literature that innovation does not occur in isolation, and furthermore, interorganizational networks facilitate innovation creation. Social networks, trust, and local embeddedness play key roles in the formation of such networks. In addition, relational perspectives, such as nongeographical proximities, are also vital factors for the creation of innovation networks, the main objective of which is knowledge creation. Important enough, the latter can be approached as crucial production factor in the frame of the knowledge economy. Moreover, scale is an important attribute of such networks, as both local and global links are important in the innovation process.