Geography of knowledge collaboration and innovation in Schumpeterian firms

Abstract

We put geographical proximity and type of knowledge collaboration partner as two boundary conditions for innovation in Schumpeterian firms. Extending the evolving literature on knowledge collaboration and regional studies, we use an innovation survey of 1251 Schumpeterian firms from 2002 to 2014 in the UK to examine this relationship. The results show that Schumpeterian firms achieve greater returns to knowledge collaboration in spatial proximity and with suppliers and customers, while the effects change with the partner type and between macro-regions in the UK: Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and London. This study has implications for researchers and policymakers.