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Face-to-Face, Buzz and Knowledge Bases: Socio-Spatial Implications for Learning, Innovation and Innovation Policy

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Author

Summary, in English

Whilst concurring with the new streams of literature in geography that highlight the importance of face-to-face and ‘buzz’ in the globalizing learning economy, we argue that this literature is misleading on three interrelated counts. Firstly, it conflates face-to-face and buzz; secondly, it fails to distinguish between the importance of face-to-face and buzz for industries drawing on different knowledge bases; and, thirdly, these conceptual inadequacies lead to an exaggeration of the importance of cities as sites for creativity and innovation, and hence regional competitiveness. By applying an industrial knowledge base approach, we seek to reconstruct an alternative framework that allows for a systematic differentiation between the importance of face-to-face and buzz for different industries. This provides a framework for developing a more nuanced understanding of the spatial implications of face-to-face communication and buzz for learning and innovation.

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Pages

655-670

Publication/Series

Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy

Volume

25

Issue

5

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Pion Ltd

Topic

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
  • Human Geography

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1472-3425