R&D Activities In a Peripheral Region: an Empirical Study with Special Reference to the North East Region of the UK

Abstract

This study examines the incidence of research and development (R&D) activities, type of R&D undertaken and the incidence of R&D co-operation among manufacturing firms located in a key urban area of the North East England, a peripheral region of the UK. We have found that over 62% of manufacturing firms in this urban growth area to be R&D active, suggesting that R&D active firms tend to be concentrated in urban area s in a peripheral region, as it is the case in the leading regions. However, the incidence of R&D co-operation was found to be relatively low among R&D active firms. It is also found that the key determinants of undertaking R&D to be the existence of a core competence/product and exporting activities. These findings might be of interest to policy makers promoting economic growth via firm’s R&D activities.

Keywords:

• Research and development
• Firm characteristics
• North East England

Acknowledgements

The authors would wish to express their gratitude to two anonymous referees and to the editor for their constructive suggestions and comments and on an earlier version of this article.