The Development of Knowledge Transfer Networks and Regional Innovation Capabilities in High Technology Clusters:

A Longitudinal Network Analysis of Kansai Biocluster

Abstract

One of the aims of industry-academia partnership policies is to develop interorganizational R&D networks, facilitating knowledge transfer and enhancing regional innovation capabilities in regional high technology clusters in advanced countries as well as emerging ones. Using a longitudinal interorganizational network analysis, many scholars have focused on dynamics of interorganizational knowledge transfer networks and their effects on regional innovation and commercialization. Examining joint patent networks in the medical area in the Kansai Biocluster during the 2000’s, we investigate how interorganizational knowledge transfer networks have expanded and research institutes have centered, and examine why few industry-academia partnership has retained good economic outcomes.