Dynamic business, innovation network and territorial competitiveness in “Centro Litoral (Portugal)”: reading from the innovation Agency Support Instruments (AdI)

Abstract

The analysis of knowledge and innovation is central to understanding the current geography of economic activity, considering different indicators and geographical scales of analysis. Considering the projects associated with the various instruments of support provided by the Innovation Agency (ADI), research aims to understand the evolution and the corresponding spatial translation of the networks of innovation Litoral Centro de Portugal (Baixo Vouga, Lower Mondego and Pinhal Litoral), trying identify multiple scales and transdisciplinary dimensions in which these networks operate and assessing the impact on the territory. Were considered projects and investments for the period 2000 to 2012 and, using the methodology of social network analysis and NodeXL template, developed a matrix of relations of the participating institutions in each project translated in the construction of graphs based on various algorithms. They were also calculated a set of metrics in order to analyze the relationships between stakeholders that allow understand not only the links between those involved actors, but notably the implications for the structure and dynamics of the network of innovation. To translate the spatial innovation networks was used ArcMap (ArcGIS 10.2) and the tool ``spider tools{''} based on a matrix origin-destination.