Entrepreneurship, innovation and regional growth: a network theory

Huggins, R. and Thompson, P. ORCID: 0000-0003-1961-7441, 2015. Entrepreneurship, innovation and regional growth: a network theory. Small Business Economics, 45 (1), pp. 103-128. ISSN 0921-898X

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Abstract

Despite the growing acknowledgement that entrepreneurship is an important driver of regional innovation and growth, the role of the networks in these processes has been less formally examined. In order to address this gap, this paper proposes that the relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation and regional growth is governed by a series of network dynamics. Drawing upon aspects of endogenous growth theory and the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship, it is proposed that the nature of the networks formed by entrepreneurial firms is a key determinant of regional growth differentials. In particular, network capital, in the form of investments in strategic relations to gain access to knowledge, is considered to mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation-based regional growth. It is suggested that network dynamics should be further incorporated into theories concerning the link between knowledge spillovers, entrepreneurship and regional growth. The paper concludes with a series of theoretical, entrepreneurial and policy implications emerging from the study.

Item Type: Journal article
Publication Title: Small Business Economics
Creators: Huggins, R. and Thompson, P.
Publisher: Springer
Place of Publication: United States
Date: June 2015
Volume: 45
Number: 1
ISSN: 0921-898X
Identifiers:
NumberType
10.1007/s11187-015-9643-3DOI
Divisions: Schools > Nottingham Business School
Record created by: EPrints Services
Date Added: 09 Oct 2015 11:07
Last Modified: 09 Jun 2017 13:50
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/23080

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