The 'KIBS Engine' of Regional Innovation Systems: Empirical Evidence from European Regions

• Published in: Regional studies Vol. 48; no. 7; pp. 1212 - 1226
• Main Authors: Corrocher, Nicoletta, Cusmano, Lucia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Routledge 01.07.2014; Cambridge University Press; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Bgi / Prodig; Business services; Competitiveness; Europe; European regions; Europäische Regionen; Human geography; Innovation; Innovations; Knowledge management; Knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS); Manufacturers; Manufacturing; Political and economic geography; Regional development; Regional economy and planning; Regional innovation systems; Regional studies; Regionale Innovationssysteme; Regiones europeas; Regions; Régions européennes; Services aux entreprises à forte densité de connaissance (KIBS); Servicios a empresas intensivos en conocimiento (SEIC); Sistemas regionales de innovación; Studies; Systèmes d'innovation régionaux; Typology; Wissensintensive Geschäftsdienste; 区域创新系统; 欧洲区域; 知识密集服务业 (KIBS); European Union; Europe; Regional economy; Engineering department; Economic growth; Technology; Competitiveness; Regional disparities; Producer services; System of innovation; Knowledge; Firm
• ISSN: 0034-3404; 1360-0591
• DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2012.731045

Corrocher N. and Cusmano L. The 'KIBS engine' of regional innovation systems: empirical evidence from European regions, Regional Studies. Knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) are key players in innovation systems, particularly in advanced regions where manufacturing competitiveness largely depends on knowledge contents provided by highly specialized suppliers. This paper investigates the relationship between KIBS and the structure and performance of regional innovation systems in Europe. It maps the co-evolution between KIBS and manufacturing in European regions, identifying emergent typologies of regional innovation systems. Results show that KIBS are a defining element of innovation-oriented regions, whereas their scarcity and slow growth distinctively characterize poor performing innovation systems. However, the analysis also identifies a set of core manufacturing regions in Europe, which are evolving along a different trajectory into knowledge-oriented service-manufacturing complexes.