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Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development: A Southern European Perspective

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Drivers of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Regional Dynamics

Part of the book series: Advances in Spatial Science ((ADVSPATIAL))

Abstract

Knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship are considered to be of utmost importance for regional growth, employment and social cohesion in the EU (Asheim et al. 2006). Most regions are meant to adjust their development policies or design new ones in order to incorporate the basic guidelines of the European Lisbon Strategy. The critical question arising is whether the institutional environment and the characteristics of the productive base in the European periphery of the South are suitable for the effective implementation of such policies.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The regional innovation paradox refers to the apparent contradiction between the comparatively greater need to spend on innovation in lagging regions and their relatively lower capacity to absorb public funds earmarked for the promotion of innovation and to invest in innovation related activities compared to more advanced regions (Oughton et al. 2002).

  2. 2.

    According to Eurostat (2008a), “high-technology or ‘high-tech’ sectors are key drivers of economic growth, productivity and social protection, and are generally a source of high value added and well-paid employment”.

  3. 3.

    High Tech and Low Tech sector definitions according to NACE Rev 1.1 and NACE Rev 2. Available at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/Annexes/htec_esms_an2.pdf and http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/Annexes/htec_esms_an3.pdf

  4. 4.

    The reader should be warned that these are self-reporting answers, so the smaller firms may be biased towards non-cooperation. This is because their conception of clustering makes them perceive it rather as a threat than as an opportunity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South and East European Development Center, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, 38334, Volos, Greece

    George Petrakos

  2. Department of Planning and Regional Development, School of Engineering, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334, Volos, Greece

    Pantoleon Skayannis, Apostolos Papadoulis & George Anastasiou

Authors
  1. George Petrakos
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  2. Pantoleon Skayannis
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  3. Apostolos Papadoulis
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  4. George Anastasiou
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Correspondence to George Petrakos .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Spatial Economics, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

    Karima Kourtit

  2. , Department of Spatial Economics, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

    Peter Nijkamp

  3. School of Public Policy, George Mason University, University Drive 4400, Fairfax, 22030, Virgin Islands, USA

    Roger R. Stough

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Petrakos, G., Skayannis, P., Papadoulis, A., Anastasiou, G. (2011). Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development: A Southern European Perspective. In: Kourtit, K., Nijkamp, P., Stough, R. (eds) Drivers of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Regional Dynamics. Advances in Spatial Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17940-2_5

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