Innovative linkages and proximity: Empirical results from recent surveys of small and medium sized firms in German regions

Recent theoretical discussion about modern approaches to explaining knowled ge-based regional development in terms of industrial district, innovative m ilieu and network hypotheses emphasizes the importance of intraregional lin kages between innovative actors. Among these, innovative firms and research institutions are regarded as most important for influencing regional econo mic development by intraregional linkages. This paper supplies databased re search by analysing several comprehensive surveys in three German regions. It focuses on the role that spatial proximity of partners plays in the esta blishment of innovative linkages between manufacturing SMEs and other actor s, such as research institutions, customers and suppliers. The results in g eneral confirm the hypothesis of strong and increasing intraregional linkag es between innovative actors. However, some of the empirical findings regar ding industrial districts like Baden do surprise.