Abstract
Innovations tend to geographically concentrate, because "face to face" communication is indispensable to share knowledges and create more innovation. This study investigated the spatial pattern of inventors' network using the patent data in Japan. Each analysis is conducted for machine and information technology to clarify the difference between industrial sectors. Consequently, followings are implicated; 1. Innovation network geographically concentrate but its pattern is different by its industrial sector. 2) inventors are more likely to collaborate when time-distance among them is small, but that tendency is getting weaker. 3) innovation network exists beyond the prefecture border and other administrative districts. After all, innovation network can grow geographically bigger in the future. Therefore, innovation policy may require cross-prefecture/regional political system.
