Knowledge Transfer as Driver for Innovation Culture in Heterogeneous Economic Zones

Abstract

The management of innovations is an important factor of influence for success in organizations and determines not only the sustainability of companies but also the future of whole economic zones. Due to the intensified competitive constraints, the need for a structural established innovation culture in companies and organizations increases. Knowledge transfer is considered as the central aspect of such an innovation culture. The goal of this paper is to analyze knowledge transfer in small and medium‐sized enterprises and heterogeneous developing economic zones, like Turkey and Germany, especially considering the role of socio‐cultural factors and degree of modernization.

This transfer of knowledge that drives innovation exists in organizations or regions, e.g. Erzurum, among different instances. The mostly established transfer is internal communication of knowledge, e.g. between two departments. A mutual exchange of experiences and establishment of knowledge transfer among organization and customer, or also educational institution and students, is another step to implement an innovation culture. It is also possible for innovation to come from outside the company – this is called open innovation. Opportunities and risks of an open innovation culture interrelated with intercultural factors will be discussed.