Innovation, Networking and Proximity: Lessons from Small High Technology Firms in the UK
Abstract
The article explores how the innovative performance of small high-tech firms relates to their external networking activities, and whether geographical proximity in their network relations matters. Data from a small sample of electronics firms and software developers in South East England are used to construct indicators of innovativeness, which are correlated with variables capturing intensity of external interactions and proximity benefits. The regional science base is found to have played a key role in nurturing new high-tech ventures, but science parks had not contributed to this. Interaction with parties with complementary capabilities such as suppliers and service providers is also associated with high innovative performance. However, the findings do not support the current policy fashion of encouraging regional networks revolving around firms in similar business activities and close customer relations.
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Effective integration of suppliers enables firms to bring to bear wider expertise during the development process.
“Enable firms to bring to bear wider expertise during the development process (Romijn and Albu, 2002).”
From Networking and innovation: a systematic review of the evidence (2004) · cites this paper as Romijn and Albu, 2002
Integration of suppliers in the innovation process is one factor leading to frame-breaking innovation.
“The integration of suppliers in the innovation process has been highlighted as one of the factors leading to frame-breaking innovation (Kaufmann and Tödtling's, 2001;Perez and Sanchez's, 2002;Romijn and Albu's, 2002).”
From Networking and innovation: a systematic review of the evidence (2004) · cites this paper as Romijn and Albu's, 2002
The value of diverse partners for innovation is demonstrated in Kaufmann and Tödtling's (2001) empirical research and were supported by Perez and Sanchez's (2002) work on technology networks in the Spanish automobile industry and Romijn and Albu's (2002) work on small high technology firms in the UK.
“The value of diverse partners for innovation is demonstrated in Kaufmann and Tödtling's (2001) empirical research and were supported by Perez and Sanchez's (2002) work on technology networks in the Spanish automobile industry and Romijn and Albu's (2002) work on small high technology firms in the UK.”
From Networking and innovation: a systematic review of the evidence (2004) · cites this paper as Romijn and Albu's (2002)
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References 23 · Cited by 130
- Authors
- Romijn, H., & Albu, M.
- ORCID
- Romijn, Henny
- Venue
- Regional Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2002-02
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 81-86
- ISSN
- 0034-3404 (ISSN-L)
- 1360-0591
- OpenAlex
- W1999331508
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 10.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Regional Studies (publishedVersion)
- TU/e Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Commission
- University of Edinburgh
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Development › Regional Development and Innovation
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Innovation and Knowledge Management
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis
- Keywords
- innovation performance, external networking, geographic proximity, science parks, electronics companies, software developers, supplier relationships, complementary capabilities, regional innovation policy, South East England
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