An Investigation of the Relation between Cooperation Intensity and the Innovative Success of German Regions

Abstract

Concepts like regional innovation systems, innovative milieu and learning regions emphasise the positive contribution of intra-regional cooperation to firms’ innovation performance. This claim is, however, primarily backed by qualitative evidence, as few studies test this issue with quantitative approaches. Using data on co-application and co-invention of patents for 270 German labour market regions, this study shows that cooperation intensity and regions’ innovation efficiency are empirically associated in a negative way. This particularly concerns missing or very extensive inter-regional cooperation. In contrast, medium intensities of regional cooperation have rather positive effects.