Knowledge, Innovation and Agglomeration - regionalized multiple indicators and evidence from Brazil

ABSTRACT

This paper develops multiple indicators to map the geographical distribution of knowledge
and scientific and technological capabilities as proxies of the geographical distribution of
Science, Technology & Innovation activities, and applies such indicators to data and
information from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The overall view of the geographical
distribution of S,T&I activities in the state is complemented by the analysis of the same
activities in the perspective of a local production and innovation system: the case of
information and communication technologies in the micro-region of Campinas. The results
show a pattern for the regional distributions of S,T&I activities along the main highways of
the state, around metropolitan areas such as Sao Paulo and Campinas, and in regions where
educational, science and technology, and R&D institutions are strongly concentrated. Firms
tend to agglomerate in these areas and regions, forming local production and innovation
systems. The paper produces evidence on the adherence of the geographical distribution of
those systems to the geographical distribution of S,T&I activities as shown by the
indicators. This confirms the empirical findings of the literature about the relationship
between geography and innovation.

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