Ebook: Technological Change, Economic Development and Space

The pressures of global competition are affecting regions throughout the world and making it increasingly necessary to understand the complex underlying mechanisms and the potential for innovation offered by new technology. Success in economic restructuring depends not only on the technology itself, but the professional and entrepreneurial skills available and the support of provided by institutions and information networks. The very local nature these phenomena, which are critical to the innovative propensity of firms operating within the region, introduces an inevitable spatial dimension. The time therefore seems ripe to bring together contributions from scholars working in different, but related disciplines, with the aim of investigating the triangular relationship between technological change, economic development and space. The present volume offers a compact review of current theoretical developments and valuable insights deriving from recent empirical studies carried out both within Europe and elsewhere. All those contributing to this volume are actively involved in research in the field. Without their intellectual contribution and willingness to participate in this joint project, the book would not have been possible. We should like, in addition, to thank Angela Spence for her capable assistance in coordinating the various stages of preparation of the book, as well as her translation work and careful linguistic editing. Thanks also go to Paola Stasi for her meticulous copy editing and help in preparing the indices. Their work has been invaluable in moulding together in a single volume contributions from so many different sources.

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What are the most favourable conditions for the generation of innovative ideas and forms of enterprise? Can they be stimulated by intervention policies? To what extent does the injection of new technology stimulate local economic development? Do Science Parks really work? It is increasingly important in a world of global competition to be able to provide answers to these questions. There is an urgent need for positive guidance to achieving the necessary economic and physical "reshaping" of our cities and regions. This volume provides a compact in-depth investigation of these issues, bringing together the work of leading scholars from a number of different countries who present insights gained from both theoretical and empirical research.