Spaces and scales of innovation

Contemporary research on innovative processes makes use of a range of scale s, from the global to the regional/local. In addition, network-based approa ches have introduced a non-territorially bounded dimension to studies of in novation. While much of the latter has, to date, been concerned with local networks, recent work has pointed to the importance of non-local interconne ctions. This paper seeks to build upon such insights suggesting that greate r attention be given to extra-local connections in studies of innovation. W e explore ways in which extra-local interconnection may be extended beyond the globalization of formalized R&D by, and between, transnational corporat ions (TNCs), which is the overwhelming preoccupation of existing research. The paper is divided into two main parts. The first consists of a review of work on the three key scales of innovation. The second considers the role of firms and individuals as key actors in systems of innovation, and sugges ts how network-based approaches may offer the best way for analysing how th ese actors operate through and across spatial scales. In conclusion, we emp hasize the need to further investigate non-TNC-based dimensions of extra-lo cal interconnection.