ABSTRACT
In the knowledge economy, a complex dynamic and interactive learning process among multiple stakeholders characterizes the innovation process. Being aware of this process, regional government policies aim to stimulate and even plan innovation in designated ‘localities of learning’ (Dosi 1996) and ‘sticky places’ (Markusen 1996). In this respect, science parks have become a prominent instrument in regional development in the knowledge economy. They play an important role as organizational links (‘territorial innovation framework’) between the pillars of the ‘triple helix’, that is public research and higher education institutions (HEI), businesses, and public administration (Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff 2000). However, not only direct linkages between different entities need to be considered inside the territorial innovation frameworks. We argue that topical links between knowledge organizations and space are of high importance, too (Suwala 2013). Consequently, two central questions arise for ‘innovation agents’ such as science parks and regional policy makers; how social cohesion and a trustful atmosphere is actively created in specific ‘localities of learning’ and territorial innovation systems, and how knowledge network management systems have to be orchestrated successfully to promote interactive and collective learning, respectively. In this chapter, we apply concepts of knowledge creation and management, currently mainly associated with organizational learning in firms and inter-firm collaboration, to the management of such territorial seedbeds of innovation. Here, we elaborate the impact of distinct dimensions of knowledge network management (KNM) instruments – relational (individual–individual) practices and, introducing a new dimensional strand, primarily topical (individual–space) mechanisms.
