Nowadays, economic geography and cognitive fields are has besetted with knowledge input and output measurement instead of assessing the quality of the knowledge produced. In this paper, we measure the complexity of knowledge, and map the distribution and the evolution of knowledge in the Italian regions through a neural network approach, based on non-linear clustering with the use of the Self-Organizing Map, and exploring in which way spatial knowledge could be linked to complexity via a relatedness measurement, the Knowledge Complexity Index. Our measurement is based on the analysis of patent data from the European Patent Office, focusing on the Italian context, between 2004 and 2012. We find that knowledge complexity is not homogeneously distributed across Italy. The implementation of this new research line could be helpful in terms of Italian regional diversification because its implementation is still at an early stage at both nation and regional levels and, at the same time, the reduction in the divergence between Regional Innovation Systems in Northern and Southern of Italy will continue to represent the major policy challenge.
Mapping the Geography of Italian Knowledge
cialfi, daniela
;colantonio, emiliano
2020-01-01
Abstract
Nowadays, economic geography and cognitive fields are has besetted with knowledge input and output measurement instead of assessing the quality of the knowledge produced. In this paper, we measure the complexity of knowledge, and map the distribution and the evolution of knowledge in the Italian regions through a neural network approach, based on non-linear clustering with the use of the Self-Organizing Map, and exploring in which way spatial knowledge could be linked to complexity via a relatedness measurement, the Knowledge Complexity Index. Our measurement is based on the analysis of patent data from the European Patent Office, focusing on the Italian context, between 2004 and 2012. We find that knowledge complexity is not homogeneously distributed across Italy. The implementation of this new research line could be helpful in terms of Italian regional diversification because its implementation is still at an early stage at both nation and regional levels and, at the same time, the reduction in the divergence between Regional Innovation Systems in Northern and Southern of Italy will continue to represent the major policy challenge.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.