1. Introduction
Over the past twenty years a considerable amount of empirical evidence of one sort or
another has been amassed which demonstrates that the processes of innovation and
technological change are spatially differentiated, both regionally within states and
internationally between nations (Harris 1988). Similarly, empirical evidence around the
world have demonstrated the interrelation between economic growth and technological
change on a national scale and even at regional level. In that sense it can be admitted
that activities related to technological innovation are a key factor in regional
development (Stohr 1988). Economic growth and prosperity are materialized through
the creation of new activities originated in firms by innovative managers. If the firm
creates its own technology, or incorporates it exogeneously, this will result in an
increase in its competitiveness. When this happen simultaneously in a group of firms
located in a particular area the combined effects may contribute to a spatial dynamism
and development of the area.
High technology industries are one of a region's assets in achieving desired economic
growh. During the 1970s and 1980s several agglomerations of ‘hiDtech’ companies □
software, telecommunications, biotechnology, etc□ developed in many ‘Silicon Valleys’
around the world. At the same time, regional governments from industrialized countries
supported the exogenous and endogenous regional development of these companies
within Technology Parks and Innovation Centers (Castells and Hall 1994). Some of
these ‘hiDtech’ companies have exhibited spectacular rates of growth in employment,
sales, exports and assets. At the same time, the geographical areas in which ‘hiDtech’
firms are important have also exhibited in some countries major indirect employment
creation in the business and consumer service sectors. For example, the experience of
the Japanese Tecnopolis indicates that the development of ‘hiDtech’ companies in
peripheral regions has reduced the regional differences in production and employment
(Stohr and Ponighaus 1992). There is also the role of ‘hiDtech’ firms in industrial
networks, in which they are thought to contribute to the transfer of technologies and to
strength the technology level of other companies (Autio 1997).
‘HiDtech’ industries are usually defined as those which simultaneously invest more
resources in research and development (R&D), employ higher percentages of qualified