This collection brings together Manfred M. Fischer`s work in the areas of innovation and technological change, innovation and network activities, knowledge creation and spillovers.
The volume is in three parts. The first part demonstrates that the processes of innovation and technological change are spatially differentiated, both regionally within countries and internationally between countries. The second part broadens, both conceptually and empirically, our understanding of the innovation process and the process of network formation, by examining the increasing importance of knowledge creation and diffusion in the new economy and how this is changing the nature of firms in crucial ways. Particular focus is laid on identifying the growing pressures for firms to develop more inter- and intrafirm networks and on providing lucid illustrations of these different kinds of networks. The third part discusses key issues related to the systems of innovation approach as a conceptual framework for regional innovation analysis and directs attention to enlightening conceptual and empirical work on the issue how knowledge spills over locally.
This collection will be essential reading for scholars and students interested in regional science, economic geography and regional economics, economics of technological change and innovation, industrial organisation, innovation studies and economic development.
Manfred M. Fischer is Professor in Economic Geography and GIScience at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Austria.

1;Preface;5 2;Contents;7 3;1 Introduction;9 3.1;PART I Innovation and Technological Change;10 3.2;PART II Innovation and Network Activities;12 3.3;PART III Knowledge Creation, Diffusion and Spillovers;13 3.4;References;16 4;Part I Innovation and Technological Change;19 4.1;2 Innovation and Technological Change: An Austrian- British Comparison;21 4.1.1;1 Introduction;21 4.1.2;2 Methodology;22 4.1.3;3 The Adoption of New Technology;28 4.1.4;4 Logit Analysis;32 4.1.5;5 Constraints on Adoption;37 4.1.6;6 Conclusions;38 4.1.7;References;39 4.2;3 Technology, Organisation and Export-driven Research and Development in Austria's Electronics Industry;41 4.2.1;Introduction;41 4.2.2;2 Exports and Territorial Distribution;45 4.2.3;3 Operational Objectives and Organisation in Austria's Electronics Industry;51 4.2.4;4 Territorial Concentration and Export-Driven R&D;58 4.2.5;5 R&D, Subcontracting and Just-in-Time;62 4.2.6;6 Conclusion;70 4.2.7;References;72 4.3;4 Information Processing, Technological Progress, and Retail Market Dynamics;81 4.3.1;1 Introduction;81 4.3.2;2 Uncertain Demand;83 4.3.3;3 Demand Forecasting;84 4.3.4;4 A Monopolistic Supplier and Retail Firms;86 4.3.5;5 Distribution of Output;89 4.3.6;6 Progress in Information Processing Technology and the Size of Retail Markets;93 4.3.7;7 Summary and Conclusion;95 4.3.8;References;95 5;Part II Innovation and Network Activities;102 5.1;5 The New Economy and Networking;103 5.1.1;1 Introduction;103 5.1.2;2 Creation and Diffusion of Knowledge;104 5.1.3;3 Networks and Network Formation;109 5.1.4;4 Networks of Externalised Relationships;112 5.1.5;5 The Emergence of the Network Enterprise of Corporate Organisation;117 5.1.6;6 By Way of Conclusions;120 5.1.7;References and Further Readings;121 5.2;6 The Innovation Process and Network Activities of Manufacturing Firms;125 5.2.1;1 Introduction;125 5.2.2;2 Technology, Knowledge and Innovation;126 5.2.3;3 The Interactive Character of the Innovation Process;128 5.2.4;4 Technology Diffusion, Absorption Capacity and Knowledge Spillovers;129 5.2.5;5 Networks and Network Formation;131 5.2.6;6 Innovation and Network Activities in the Metropolitan Region of Vienna;132 5.2.7;7 Summary and Conclusions;138 5.2.8;References;139 5.3;7 Knowledge Interactions between Universities and Industry in Austria: Sectoral Patterns and Determinants;143 5.3.1;1 Introduction;143 5.3.2;2 Types of Knowledge Interactions between Universities and Industry;144 5.3.3;3 Variation in Knowledge Interactions between University and Industry;147 5.3.4;4 Measuring Knowledge Interactions;148 5.3.5;5 Sectoral Patterns of Knowledge Interactions;153 5.3.6;6 Determinants of Knowledge Interactions;159 5.3.7;7 Summary and Conclusions;169 5.3.8;References;171 6;Part III Knowledge Creation, Diffusion and Spillovers;176 6.1;8 Innovation, Knowledge Creation and Systems of Innovation;177 6.1.1;1 Introduction;177 6.1.2;2 Innovation and Technological Change;178 6.1.3;3 Systems of Innovation: Conceptual Framework and Localised Systems;185 6.1.4;4 Summary and Outlook;191 6.1.5;References;193 6.2;9 The Role of Space in the Creation of Knowledge in Austria: An Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis;197 6.2.1;1 Introduction;197 6.2.2;2 Methodology and Data;198 6.2.3;3 Time-Space Patterns of Knowledge Production in Austria;202 6.2.4;4 Local Inputs to Innovation - An Assessment of Their Relative Significance in Knowledge Production;209 6.2.5;5 Conclusions;214 6.2.6;References;215 6.3;10 Spatial Knowledge Spillovers and University Research: Evidence from Austria;219 6.3.1;1 Introduction;219 6.3.2;2 The Knowledge Production Function;221 6.3.3;3 Data, Variable Definition and the Spatial Scale of the Analysis;224 6.3.4;4 Estimation Issues;227 6.3.5;5 Empirical Results;229 6.3.6;6 Summary and Conclusions;231 6.3.7;References;233 6.4;11 Patents, Patent Citations and the Geography of Knowledge Spillovers in Europe;241 6.4.1;1 Introduction;241 6.4.2;2 Patents and Patent Data;243 6.4.3;3 Knowledge Spillovers, Patent