ABSTRACT
Innovation networks serve primarily as channels for knowledge creation and diffusion. Innovation networks offer access to scarce resources, create learning opportunities and are considered as means to share R&D costs as well as to cope with technological uncertainty. They are of particular importance for knowledge-intensive industries where the involved clients play a critical role in e.g. fast and new knowledge creation (Buchmann and Pyka 2011; Pyka 2002). In addition, besides their role in creating learning opportunities and their impact on know ledge transfer, innovation networks are also important for the development and integration of economies. As Saxenian (2006) has shown, Silicon Valley has significantly benefited from “transnational or commuting entrepreneurs” which transferred competences from the core to peripheral regions. 1 Thereby special innovation networks are created where knowledge is diffused that emerges due to local and international linkages of those transnational or commuting entrepreneurs.
