Knowledge in the region: Development based on tradition, culture and change

Abstract

Regional development is characterized by different types of knowledge from science, tradition, culture, industrial application, etc. Some of this knowledge is from the individual region, some is brought into the region and others need to be built up to provide a new knowledge base. Socio-economic development refers to such sources and takes advantage of the different regional societies' orientations in constantly modernizing these competences. Since enterprises can make economic use of knowledge only when it is marketable, some sources of, for example, traditional knowledge need to be continued for future use. This is of public interest and demands particular policy design addressed to both knowledge keepers and users.

Notes

1. This is indicated by technologies and products referring to a particular regional situation: mechanical engineering and the use of microelectronics, the cases of Terza Italia, the application of modern biotechnology in Copenhagen and in relation with optical instruments in Jena, precision engineering in Switzerland, Italy and Germany, watch making in Switzerland software for off shore oil drilling in Norway, wood processing machines in Finland, etc.

2. See also the changes at Pittsburgh, PA, that are related to universities and research (Giarratani et al., 2003; Allen et al., 2003).

3. This can be identified in the technologically vital location of Dortmund adding up modern structures to the Ruhr Area or as in the case of Jena that benefits from the national BioRegio Programme as well as from regional government activities. See also the role of policies for regional change in Italy after 1990 that has unleashed changes in the previously existing industrial structure (Drüke, 2003).

4. See Bastian's contribution on regional knowledge culture in this issue.

5. So, knowledge has to be developed out of the information and scientific capabilities found at a region or brought to a region. The knowledge transferred—or migrated—to a region will have a particular individual impact depending on the regional situation developed out of it. The processes of the RTP in North Carolina providing for a wide variety of high-tech opportunities indicate the specific opportunities. The impact of Microsoft at Seattle, WA, as well as the strength of the Ruhr Area in environmental technologies is demonstrating the opportunities for development. But, nevertheless, this may develop a close linkage with the region. Simultaneously, they provide for a situation that is not to be recreated elsewhere: it is the particular profile of the region, and it is the window of opportunities that may be close once the imitators might be ready to have a similar situation in the region. It is both interesting and fundamentally important, that such development does also refer to industries that demand skilled blue colour labour. Environmental industries in the Ruhr Area refer to restructuring and modernizing sectors as mechanical engineering and plant construction. So, it supplies also continuing employment to skilled workforce rather than focussing on university degrees. The basis for these wide opportunities to be opened is the knowledge in the region that emerges out of the information and capabilities brought in with the existing structures of industries and labour.