provided by Research Papers in Economics
40th Congress of the European Regional Science Association
Barcelona (Spain) 29th August □1st September, 2000
Technology and regional development: the case of
patents and firm location in the Spanish medical instruments
industry
Manuela P. Pérez and Angel M. Sanchez
UniversityofZaragoza (Spain)
Departamento de Economia y Direccion de Empresas
Centro Politdcnico Superior
Maria de Luna No. 3, 50015DZaragoza, Spain
EDmail: [email protected] <Manuela P. Pdrez>
[email protected] <Angel M. Sanchez>
Abstract. This paper analyzes the spatial distribution of the results of the technological
process (patents granted) in the Spanish medical equipment industry. The paper shows
a polarization towards the two large urban agglomerations of Barcelona and Madrid.
The regression analysis accomplished with the explanatory variables has shown that the
innovative activity is positively correlated with networking and the proximity to
medical agglomeration centers. The explanatory model has not found a significant
contribution of agglomeration to patenting intensity which allows for the possibility
that small ‘hiDtech’ medical equipment firms may develop and locate in peripheral
regions.