Marina Solesvik, Professor Dr, Stord/Haugesund University College, Bjørnsonsgate 45, 5528 Haugesund, Norway; Bergen University College, P.O. Box 7030, Nygårdsgaten 112, 5020 Bergen, Norway, tel.: +47 48 133 882, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Magnus Gulbrandsen, Professor Dr, Center for Technology, Innovation and Culture (TIK), University of Oslo, Postbox 1108 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway, tel.: +47 48 133 882, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Abstract

Building upon insights from earlier investigations of innovation collaboration from a regional perspective as well as the triple helix perspective, local/regional innovation systems and open innovation approaches, this study explores whether cooperation between firms, universities and government increases the intensity of innovation equally for the capital city and peripheral regions. We investigate whether firms located in the capital region benefit more from public support, cooperation with universities, and cooperation with different stakeholders than firms located in peripheral regions. Using logistic binary regressions, we find that capital region firms are generally not more innovative than those located elsewhere. We also find no effect on innovation from cooperation with universities, although public support is related to engagement in product and process innovations. Our results warn against simple applications of triple helix and open innovation approaches, as many forms of collaboration seem to have little impact on innovation, regardless of regional context.

Keywords: innovation, cooperation; triple helix model; regional innovation systems; Norway.