Regional knowledge asymmetries and innovation performance from collaborations across European regions

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of collaborative networks on regional innovation performance across European regions. We analyze the dynamics of regional knowledge networks, emphasizing how their structural characteristics—such as privileged positions, leadership roles, and active participation—enhance a region's innovation capacity. We investigated through complex network analysis 8,424 collaborative projects of the Horizon 2020 strategy, comprising 14,608 participating companies from 232 regions between 2014 and 2020. Our results indicate that European regional innovation capacity is partly driven by collaboration between agents in the knowledge network. Indeed, having a privileged position, a leadership role, and being actively participative explains part of the innovation capacity of regions in Europe. Additionally, the study highlights the critical role of knowledge transfer capabilities, acting as a mediating factor that strengthens the benefits of well-structured networks. This research contributes to understanding how interconnectedness in regional ecosystems fosters innovation, offering insights for policymakers to enhance regional innovation strategies through better network facilitation and support.