1st Edition

Multinational Corporations and European Regional Systems of Innovation

By John Cantwell, Simona Iammarino Copyright 2003
    216 Pages
    by Routledge

    216 Pages
    by Routledge

    In globalising economies, particularly those going through a process of economic integration such as those economies within the EU, regions forge an increasing number of linkages with other locations within and across national borders. This is largely carried out by the technological efforts of Multinational Corporations (MNCs).
    This book explores the regional dimension of Europe in terms of localised technological comparative advantages and the location of innovative activities by MNCs. Using an empirical analysis John Cantwell and Simona Iammarino cover such important themes as:

    • MNC technological activities and economic wealth
    • MNCs and the regional systems of innovation in Italy, UK, Germany and France
    • the geographical hierarchy across European national borders.

    1. Introduction2. Regional Systems of Innovation in Europe and the Globalisation of Technology3. MNC Technological Activities and Economic Wealth: An Analysis of Spatial Distribution in the European Union4. Geographical Hierarchies of Research Locations in the European Union5. Multinational Corporations and the Italian Regional Systems of Innovation6. Multinational Corporations and the UK Regional Systems of Innovation7. Multinational Corporations and the German Regional Systems of Innovation8. Multinational Corporations and the French Regional Systems of Innovation9. The Geographical Hierarchy Across European National Borders10. Conclusions: The Global-Local Nexus in Technological Innovation: What Implications for the Future?

    Biography

    John Cantwell is Professor of International Business at the Rutgers Business School, New Jersey (USA).

    Simona Iammarino is Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics (UK).

    'This slim volume undertakes a thorough and considered analysis ... To my knowledge this is the first systematic analysis of this subject at an interdisciplinary level, and it marks an important step in developing a thorough understanding of the complexities underlying innovation and location.' - Research Policy