Innovation in an urban context

Sammanfattning: The dissertation is based on a collection of papers addressing different aspects of regional innovation systems in an urban context. The overall aim is to find explanatory factors behind the workings of regional innovation systems in urban agglomerations by looking at the innovation dynamics and innovation outcomes of the Oslo region, and secondly, by analysing how two diverse subsets of economic activity in the Oslo region (and other urban agglomerations) are able to exploit a regional innovation system (clustered manufacturing SME's and Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS). This is done by using theoretical insights and empirical research. The empirical findings indicate that regional and national systems have different roles in the innovation dynamics of the Oslo region. The findings shows that to be a well functioning and operative innovation system barriers rooted in both a ?competence? and a ?cultural? mismatch must be overcome for SME?s, and policy suggestion for a governance structure able to help overcome these barriers are suggested. Further, the research addresses the interrelatedness between KIBS and a regional innovation system characterized by urban agglomeration, firstly by looking at why and how this system is important for KIBS? competitiveness, and secondly how a regional innovation system profits from KIBS agglomeration. The thesis questions what characterises KIBS? clients that are able to innovate and take part in learning processes with KIBS.