Star scientists as drivers of the development of regions
Author
Editor
- Iulia Schiedschlag
- Peter Nijkamp
Summary, in English
This chapter investigates the location pattern (at the NUTS 2 level) of
European-based star scientists (identified by the number of citations they generated in journals in the ISI database) as well as the degree and intensity of knowledge sharing activities performed by the scientific elite in their regions of choice. Using a unique dataset of 197 star scientists, we demonstrate that Europe’s world-class researchers are strongly concentrated in a few major places and tend to embed
themselves in these regions by creating multiple knowledge linkages to actors from the academic, industrial and policy world. Our empirical research clearly suggests that star scientists located in Europe are far from being isolated inhabitants of the ivory tower. By adopting various mechanisms of knowledge transfer and promoting a circulation of advanced expertise, star scientists have the potential to drive the development of Europe’s regions.
European-based star scientists (identified by the number of citations they generated in journals in the ISI database) as well as the degree and intensity of knowledge sharing activities performed by the scientific elite in their regions of choice. Using a unique dataset of 197 star scientists, we demonstrate that Europe’s world-class researchers are strongly concentrated in a few major places and tend to embed
themselves in these regions by creating multiple knowledge linkages to actors from the academic, industrial and policy world. Our empirical research clearly suggests that star scientists located in Europe are far from being isolated inhabitants of the ivory tower. By adopting various mechanisms of knowledge transfer and promoting a circulation of advanced expertise, star scientists have the potential to drive the development of Europe’s regions.
Department/s
Publishing year
2011
Language
English
Pages
113-134
Publication/Series
Innovation, growth and competitiveness. Dynamic regions in the knowledge-based world economy
Document type
Book chapter
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Human Geography
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 978-3-642-14965-8