Dear colleagues

 

We have recently published three new pieces at REGION:

 

Increasing innovativeness of SMEs in peripheral areas through international networks? The case of Southern Italy

Giuseppe Calignano, Robert Hassink

http://openjournals.wu.ac.at/ojs/index.php/region/article/view/93

Summary: Based on the major literature on topics such as knowledge exchange, innovation networks and disparities, and on descriptive statistics and a cluster analysis in a dynamic perspective, this study aimed to assess the actual intra-regional, extra-regional and transnational links established by the Italian SMEs and public research establishments (PREs). It also aimed at assessing if knowledge flows were mainly concentrated in the traditionally winning macro-regional areas or led to more widespread benefits in favour of SMEs located in the South. The findings of our study revealed a very limited number of connections – with a related weak knowledge exchange – involving the southern regions, implying a reinforcement of innovation activities in the traditionally most dynamic industrial areas of the country.

Images: There are some maps of Italian regions that can play the role for advertising the publication.

 

 

Towards A Regional Science Academy: A Manifesto

Karima Kourtit, Peter Nijkamp

http://openjournals.wu.ac.at/ojs/index.php/region/article/view/120

Summary: This Manifesto provides a joint proposal to create a Regional Science Academy as a think-tank support platform for a strategic development of the spatial sciences. The Regional Science Academy is a strategic spatial knowledge catalyst: it acts as a global intellectual powerhouse for new knowledge network initiatives and scholarly views on regions and cities as vital centrepieces of interconnected spatial systems. This contribution highlights its role and presents various activity plans.

Images: There are two images in this work. Both could be used to advertise it

 

Editorial: Regional Science debates take place in REGION

Vicente Royuela

http://openjournals.wu.ac.at/ojs/index.php/region/article/view/134

Summary: Regional science is not only an academic discipline. Practitioners and policy makers are also involved at conferences and workshops. Nevertheless, discussions are not only taking place in shared physical spaces. They are also occurring in the literature, particularly in journals, newsletters and in electronic media. The third volume of REGION presents a Manifesto proposing the creation of a new think-tank platform, the Regional Science Academy. We are proud to publish such an outcome, for it presents REGION as an environment that houses and promotes such discourse.