Despite the recent theoretical and empirical advancements in the geography
of innovation literature regarding the role that global sources of
knowledge may have for regional growth and development, research in
this field remains focused on successful regions and clusters in developed
countries. Hitherto there has been limited research on the role of regions
located in developing countries and the different types of global flows
of innovation that link firms located in those regions with the rest of the
world. Furthermore, most of the geography of innovation literature remains
at the meso level (regional and sectorial), and almost ignores the
interplay with firm-level characteristics. Using an interdisciplinary perspective,
the thesis contributes to the literature by combining the geography
of innovation studies with international business and innovation
studies to integrate the meso dimension with the global and micro dimensions.
The thesis investigates how certain regions in emerging economies
are changing the geography of innovation. More specifically, this
thesis aims to investigate the role of the region as well as of firm level
factors, especially resources and capabilities, in explaining and sustaining
firms’ innovation performances and their possible modes of participation
in the globalization of innovation.
