Special Issue on Entrepreneurship, Firm Growth and Regional Development in the New Economic Geography

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 141 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (249 download)

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Book Synopsis Special Issue on Entrepreneurship, Firm Growth and Regional Development in the New Economic Geography by : Charlie Karlsson

Download or read book Special Issue on Entrepreneurship, Firm Growth and Regional Development in the New Economic Geography written by Charlie Karlsson and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 141 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Entrepreneurship in a Regional Context

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317431758
Total Pages : 330 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (174 download)

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Book Synopsis Entrepreneurship in a Regional Context by : Michael Fritsch

Download or read book Entrepreneurship in a Regional Context written by Michael Fritsch and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-08-17 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enterprise and entrepreneurship is of strong interest to policy-makers because new and small firms can be a key contributor to job and wealth creation. However this contribution varies spatially, with some areas in a country having new firm formation rates that are up to three or four times higher than others. The vast majority of these new firms begin in the geographical area in which the founder lives, works or was born emphasising that entrepreneurship is a local event. The book documents a diversity of research approaches to examining the regional determinants of entrepreneurship in countries as contrasting as India and Sweden. The Editors call is for scholars to better understand the long run factors that influence enterprise at the local and regional level. For policy makers the Editors challenge is for them to be much clearer about the targets for their policies. Is it new firms, new jobs, productivity and does it matter where these targets are delivered? This book was published as a special issue of Regional Studies.

Entrepreneurship, Firm Growth and Regional Development in the New Economic Geography

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9789163105746
Total Pages : 583 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (57 download)

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Book Synopsis Entrepreneurship, Firm Growth and Regional Development in the New Economic Geography by : Uddevalla Symposium

Download or read book Entrepreneurship, Firm Growth and Regional Development in the New Economic Geography written by Uddevalla Symposium and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 583 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Handbook of Research on Entrepreneurship and Regional Development

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Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 0857936492
Total Pages : 361 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (579 download)

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Book Synopsis Handbook of Research on Entrepreneurship and Regional Development by : Michael Fritsch

Download or read book Handbook of Research on Entrepreneurship and Regional Development written by Michael Fritsch and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2013-01-01 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ô. . . the book is an important reading in the field of entrepreneurship. One of its main contributions is that it clearly shows that the process of new firm formation is a regional event. The chapters are rich in theoretical insights and data, and are valuable readings for students, academics, and policy-makers interested in entrepreneurship and regional growth.Õ Ð Christine Tam‡sy, Regional Studies ÔEntrepreneurship can have powerful effects on local as well as national economies. The chapters in this edited volume, authored by well-known experts in their fields, explore various aspects of entrepreneurship and regional development. The book provides an illuminating overview of the current state of knowledge while also sharing with the reader several new findings and insights on issues as diverse as globalization, regional employment growth, nascent entrepreneurs, gazelles, labor productivity, government regulations, and university entrepreneurship. It is recommended reading for anyone interested in these topics.Õ Ð Simon C. Parker, The University of Western Ontario, Canada ÔThere is substantial evidence regarding the considerable regional variation in business creation. Michael Fritsch has done a fine job of assembling the most recent analyses of the best scholars on the regional factors affecting firm creation and the consequences. It is essential reading for any scholar or policy analyst seeking a state-of-the-art overview of the current empirical status of research on this important topic.Õ Ð Paul D. Reynolds, George Washington University, US ÔThis Handbook examines the contribution of the entrepreneur and related processes to regional economic development. The recognition that the indirect entrepreneurial effects on development are more significant than the direct is an important and under-girding conclusion. And further, that entrepreneurial driven effects are often not felt immediately but in some cases only across decades, as illustrated by the over-two-decade incubation of the entrepreneurial culture in Silicon Valley which only later resulted in it becoming the dominant icon of scientific and technology regional development that it is today.Õ Ð Roger Stough, George Mason University, US ÔThis volume fills an important gap in the research literature on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is a localized phenomenon and all too many studies disregard this fact. Thus, the regional economic milieu is a critical factor determining not only the volume and type of entrepreneurship but also the effects of entrepreneurship in terms of value-added growth, employment growth, etc. The contributions in this book by a number of leading scientists in the field provide an excellent overview and understanding of the prerequisites for and the role of entrepreneurship in regional growth and development.Õ Ð Charlie Karlsson, Jšnkšping University, Sweden Recent research has found pronounced differences in the level of entrepreneurship and new business formation across various regions and nations. This timely Handbook reveals that the development of new ventures as well as their effects on overall economic growth are strongly shaped by their regional and national environment. The expert group of contributors gives an overview on the current state of the art in this field, and proposes avenues for further investigation. Topics include the regional determinants of new business formation, the effects of start-ups on growth, the role of globalization for regional entrepreneurship, the effect of national and regional framework conditions, as well as the role of universities as incubators of innovative new firms.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Second Tier Regions

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Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 085793869X
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (579 download)

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Book Synopsis Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Second Tier Regions by : Heike Mayer

Download or read book Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Second Tier Regions written by Heike Mayer and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2011-01-01 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Second tier high-tech regions are taking a different path than their well-known counterparts such as Silicon Valley or Route 128 around Boston. They may lack many prerequisites of growth such as a world-class research university or high levels of venture capital funding. Often, however, they can successfully leverage anchor firms and entrepreneurial spinoffs. This book explores the evolution of these regions in the United States. The author critically examines how they evolved as knowledge-based economies, how they leveraged entrepreneurship and innovation, and ultimately how they employed public policy to support economic growth. Filling a gap in the literature, the book speaks to researchers and policymakers across the fields of entrepreneurship, economic geography and economic development planning.

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Geography and Growth

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Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118427270
Total Pages : 208 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (184 download)

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Book Synopsis Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Geography and Growth by : Philip McCann

Download or read book Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Geography and Growth written by Philip McCann and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-10-17 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Geography and Growth provides a timely, accessible review of our understanding of the complex links between innovation, entrepreneurship, geography and growth. Expert contributions provide a thorough roadmap of the developments in research at the interface of these themes. A timely and accessible review of our understanding of the complex links between innovation, entrepreneurship, geography and growth A highly comprehensive roadmap of the range of issues addressed by research in these areas Discusses the most profitable ways forward for enhancing our understanding of arising issues Contributions from leading experts in the field take a variety of theoretical, empirical and institutional angles

Entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Development

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Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781781959602
Total Pages : 370 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (596 download)

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Book Synopsis Entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Development by : Henri L. F. de Groot

Download or read book Entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Development written by Henri L. F. de Groot and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2004-01-01 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Entrepreneurship had been high on the jobs growth and economic development agendas for many years and this edited book makes an important and timely contribution to the debate. . . the book is nicely poised to bring together space, innovation and economic growth linked together with entrepreneurship. . . This book provides an excellent and worthwhile insight into many of the issues with many contributions that significantly add to our understanding of entrepreneurship and regional development.' - Ronald W. McQuaid, Growth & Change

Regional Dimensions of Entrepreneurship

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Publisher : Now Publishers Inc
ISBN 13 : 1601982224
Total Pages : 144 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis Regional Dimensions of Entrepreneurship by : Rolf Sternberg

Download or read book Regional Dimensions of Entrepreneurship written by Rolf Sternberg and published by Now Publishers Inc. This book was released on 2009 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Regional Dimensions of Entrepreneurship reviews the theoretical arguments supporting the idea that entrepreneurial activities and entrepreneurial success are influenced by the attributes of the region where the potential founder and the real founder of a firm was or actually is located. The author explains that the regional environment is an important context variable and cannot be ignored when exploring the determinants of firm creation and of new firm growth. Regional Dimensions of Entrepreneurship consists of the theoretical foundations, empirical evidence and policy implications for the importance of regional issues. Finally, the author provides an overview of the literature on regional entrepreneurship, covering as many countries and sub-national regions as possible, with a certain focus on Western Europe and North America due in part to the particularly large quantity of empirical research on regional entrepreneurship and regionally focused entrepreneurship policies in these areas.

Unlocking Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1800371241
Total Pages : 368 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (3 download)

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Book Synopsis Unlocking Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship by : Iréne Bernhard

Download or read book Unlocking Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship written by Iréne Bernhard and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2021-06-25 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illuminating and timely, this book explores several theoretical and empirical issues related to the potential for increasing capacities for innovation, knowledge and entrepreneurship. It highlights the current academic and political consensus that calls for policy interventions targeted towards more balanced, inclusive and regionally cohesive growth.

New Business Formation and Regional Development

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781601986405
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis New Business Formation and Regional Development by : Michael Fritsch

Download or read book New Business Formation and Regional Development written by Michael Fritsch and published by . This book was released on 2013-02 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New Business Formation and Regional Development provides an overview of the effects that new businesses have on regional development. The focus is on regions because geographical units of observation are much better suited for such an analysis than are industries. Regional growth is a complex process that involves large numbers of start-ups in diverse industries, firm exit, and growing and declining incumbent firms. The determinants of the effects that new business formation has in this complex process may be different from those factors that make individual start-ups succeed or a fail. After an introductory explanation, section 2 begins with a brief sketch of the extant research on this topic. Section 3 reviews the main theoretical approaches that provide insights and explanations, and combines them in a more diverse and comprehensive explanation of the effects of start-ups on development. This eclectic approach particularly highlights the competitive challenge that start-ups pose to incumbent firms and the important role played by the regional environment. Section 4 reports the available empirical evidence on the different effects that new business formation might have on regional development. The research ends with a discussion of policy implications in Section 5, and outlining important questions for further research in Section 6.

Entrepreneurship and Regional Development

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Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781847209320
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (93 download)

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Book Synopsis Entrepreneurship and Regional Development by : Charlie Karlsson

Download or read book Entrepreneurship and Regional Development written by Charlie Karlsson and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2010 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perhaps the most exceptional aspect of the current era of globalisation is that entrepreneurship has become the engine for local processes of economic, social and cultural development throughout the world. This important new book brings together a number of leading scholars in the field to explore the development aspects of globalisation, in particular those that foster the evolution of entrepreneurs in local-global processes.

Geographies of Entrepreneurship

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317415787
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (174 download)

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Book Synopsis Geographies of Entrepreneurship by : Elizabeth A. Mack

Download or read book Geographies of Entrepreneurship written by Elizabeth A. Mack and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-03-10 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses a gap in the present literature on the role that geography plays in the distribution of entrepreneurial activity. Emerging work on entrepreneurial ecosystems suggests it is important entrepreneurship studies move beyond the mere identification of factors that impact entrepreneurial activity to consider the unique geographic contexts in which entrepreneurs operate. These contexts include a variety of interactive elements including regional characteristics, institutions, actors, and connectors. As such, this collection analyses entrepreneurial activity in regions around the globe. The contributions explore a series of diverse regions in terms of their geographic, historical, industrial, and institutional contexts. The book also explores a range of topics, such as patterns of regional/subnational variations in entrepreneurial activity, geographically mediated determinants of entrepreneurship, inter-temporal dynamics, evolution of regional systems of entrepreneurship, and the impact of entrepreneurship on regional development and regional entrepreneurship policy. This book enhances our policy and practical knowledge about the unique regional context in which entrepreneurs operate and demonstrates the important role that geography plays in the spatial distribution of entrepreneurial activity.

Entrepreneurship and Regional Development

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Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030455211
Total Pages : 404 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (34 download)

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Book Synopsis Entrepreneurship and Regional Development by : Rajagopal

Download or read book Entrepreneurship and Regional Development written by Rajagopal and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-10-31 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited volume brings together research on symbiotic themes of entrepreneurship, resource planning, and regional development and their impact on global-local business imperatives. Discussions in this volume critically analyze the convergence of entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, business practices, public policies, political ideologies, and consumer values for improving the global-local business paradigm to support regional development. This book also delves into contemporary entrepreneurship models, converging business strategies towards entrepreneurial and industrial alliance in manufacturing, services, and marketing organizations. It contemplates the development of new business models and hybrid entrepreneurial perspectives to match the changing priorities of regional economic development in developing countries. This volume offers scholars new entrepreneurial visions and business perspectives of industries in emerging markets, while presenting a more integrated view to enable companies to innovate for long-term profitability and sustainability.

Drivers of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Regional Dynamics

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3642179401
Total Pages : 386 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (421 download)

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Book Synopsis Drivers of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Regional Dynamics by : Karima Kourtit

Download or read book Drivers of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Regional Dynamics written by Karima Kourtit and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-06-10 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The need for informed and effective insights into key concepts and models of regional development and growth, from an endogenous growth perspective, has risen over the past decade. These recent advances address in particular local and regional assets and characteristics comprising inter alia creativity, knowledge, innovation forces and entrepreneurship. Access to and exploitation of these modern forms of human and social capital are of paramount importance for the dynamic regional economic environment in a city or region. This volume offers an overview and critical treatment of the spatial-economic roots, opportunities and impacts of new growth strategies, mainly from an evidence-based perspective. In the various contributions to this volume, relevant findings and strategic options are interpreted and discussed from both an analytical and a policy perspective to help cultivate creativity, human capital development and innovation as well as entrepreneurial activity, with a view to exploit the drivers of economic development, in order to strengthen the competitive edge of cities and regions.

Geographies of Entrepreneurship

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317415795
Total Pages : 199 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (174 download)

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Book Synopsis Geographies of Entrepreneurship by : Elizabeth A. Mack

Download or read book Geographies of Entrepreneurship written by Elizabeth A. Mack and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-03-10 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses a gap in the present literature on the role that geography plays in the distribution of entrepreneurial activity. Emerging work on entrepreneurial ecosystems suggests it is important entrepreneurship studies move beyond the mere identification of factors that impact entrepreneurial activity to consider the unique geographic contexts in which entrepreneurs operate. These contexts include a variety of interactive elements including regional characteristics, institutions, actors, and connectors. As such, this collection analyses entrepreneurial activity in regions around the globe. The contributions explore a series of diverse regions in terms of their geographic, historical, industrial, and institutional contexts. The book also explores a range of topics, such as patterns of regional/subnational variations in entrepreneurial activity, geographically mediated determinants of entrepreneurship, inter-temporal dynamics, evolution of regional systems of entrepreneurship, and the impact of entrepreneurship on regional development and regional entrepreneurship policy. This book enhances our policy and practical knowledge about the unique regional context in which entrepreneurs operate and demonstrates the important role that geography plays in the spatial distribution of entrepreneurial activity.

New Directions in Regional Economic Development

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Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 0857933515
Total Pages : 361 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (579 download)

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Book Synopsis New Directions in Regional Economic Development by : Sameeksha Desai

Download or read book New Directions in Regional Economic Development written by Sameeksha Desai and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2011 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The introduction of endogenous growth theory has led to new interest in the role of the entrepreneur as an agent driving technical change at the local regional level. This book examines theoretical and methodological issues surrounding the interface of the entrepreneur in regional growth dynamics on the one hand and on the other presents illuminating case studies. In total the book's contributions amplify understanding of such critical issues as the relationship between innovation and entrepreneurship, the entrepreneur's role in transforming knowledge into something economically useful, and knowledge commercialization with both conceptual and empirical contributions. The emergence of endogenous growth theory has unleashed a flurry of new hypotheses and related inquiries that have in turn created an exciting dynamic in the conceptual, theoretical and empirical foundations of the field. A central feature has been the recognition that local initiatives matter in how regions grow and adjust to changes and shocks. Moreover, it is the role of technical change, driven by entrepreneurs, that motivates these initiatives. This volume begins by outlining and explaining the theory and method behind entrepreneurship and development. This is followed by specific case studies of practice and policy. These cases are region specific, offering the reader concrete, empirically based research results. Scholars and students in economics, entrepreneurship and public policy will find this volume a valuable tool in understanding the latest research in regional economic development.

Entrepreneurship, Technological Upgrading and Innovation Policy in Less Developed and Peripheral Regions

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Publisher : Cognitione Foundation for the Dissemination of Knowledge and Science
ISBN 13 : 8395449631
Total Pages : 198 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (954 download)

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Book Synopsis Entrepreneurship, Technological Upgrading and Innovation Policy in Less Developed and Peripheral Regions by : Ivano Dileo

Download or read book Entrepreneurship, Technological Upgrading and Innovation Policy in Less Developed and Peripheral Regions written by Ivano Dileo and published by Cognitione Foundation for the Dissemination of Knowledge and Science. This book was released on 2019-01-01 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This special issue of the journal tries to shed light on how innovation processes occur in less developed regions by examining which factors affect these processes and how they differ substantially between the less developed and the more developed areas in Europe. There are significant differences in innovation capacity among the lagging-peripheral and the more developed regions. Recently, the downgrading of traditional manufacturing and districts-based models in Europe has also highlighted the importance of enhancing relationships between the global and local-regional networks of entrepreneurs and innovators. The transfer of resources alone is not enough to create competitive regional economies in a global world. In this regard, innovation policy may be crucial in designing new paths for development and increasing innovation in peripheral regions. The issue consists of six articles. All of the papers focus on analyzing various aspects of the less developed and peripheral areas within a European context, and look at innovation issues from different research perspectives and methods. In particular, four papers are related to innovation in SMEs and Smart Specialisation Strategy, innovation and the regional allocation of coordination–participation in projects across EU regions, innovation policy and firm absorptive capacities, and innovation linkages with path development in rural areas. One article is based on the relationship between family firms and the propensity to invest in innovation, comparing the more and less developed macro geographical areas. The final paper concerns the nexus between policy planning and the local business ecosystems’ innovative and competitive competence. The first paper by Lukasz Arendt and Wojciech Grabowski focuses on indirectly assessing the impact of innovation policies conducted in Polish NUTS 2 regions within the framework of Regional Innovation Systems and Smart Specialisation Strategy. Interestingly, the authors combine firm-level data with meso data in a multilevel setting and observe that Polish SMEs in less developed regions mostly depend on in-house capabilities, rather than on regional innovative potential, to introduce different types of innovations. Another observation is that Polish SMEs are more likely to innovate if they have an R&D department, a higher quality of labor, realized investments and they use ICT. Finally, regional policies in these less-developed regions should focus more on linking firm-level factors with regional innovation systems, so as to enhance companies’ innovation capacity. The article by Pedro Varela-Vázquez, Manuel González-López and María del Carmen Sánchez-Carreira presents a consistent descriptive analysis concerning the regional allocation of coordination and participation in projects under the 6th and 7th Framework Programmes (FPs), as well as the funds allocated by the ongoing Horizon 2020. By comparing the 6th and 7th FPs, the authors show the existence of a slight reduction in the disparities, in particular, due to the higher participation of regions from Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The results show some interesting insights, as it emerges that developed regions account for most of the participation in projects and funds from the FP instruments. Concerning less developed regions, an uneven geographical distribution of projects and funds leads to the reinforcement of pre-existing industrial and innovation hubs. The third paper is by Marco Pini. The author investigates whether, in less developed regions, family businesses run by outside managers show a higher propensity to innovate (investing in Industry 4.0) than those where the managers are family members. This research focuses on the impact of digital innovation between the less developed Italian regions (Southern) and the more developed regions (the Centre-North). The results show that in Southern Italy, family businesses are more likely to invest in digital technologies when the firm is run by an external manager and spends on R&D. However, in less developed regions, R&D requires new competencies and capabilities. Hence, innovation policies should be based on specific “innovation patterns” defined within individual regions, not only in terms of R&D incentives, but also in encouraging a policy mix approach that is not entirely based on R&D and technology issues. The fourth paper, written by Agnė Paliokaitė, refers to the “regional innovation paradox,” i.e. the low absorption capacity of public funds for innovation shown by less developed region. The author has carried out an analysis of innovation policies applied to central and eastern European countries between 2007 and 2013. She finds that policies hardly promote structural changes as they mainly focus on improving the capacities of mature sectors and on adopting existing technologies. In this sense, the results suggest that a more tailored approach to innovation capacity building is needed, taking into account the current capacity levels within the target groups. The fifth paper, by Merli Reidolf and Martin Graffenberger, analyses the role of local resources for firm innovation and path development in rural areas. Based on the case of Estonia, they find that rural resources (physical, human, immaterial, social and community, and financial) have the potential to extend and upgrade regional development paths, and to enrich existing paths with additional functions. However, merely relying on rural resources to facilitate substantial changes in regional paths does not suffice. Finally, the sixth paper which has been written by Charis Vlados and Dimos Chatzinikolaou analyses the case of business ecosystem policy from a physiological and evolutionary perspective, the so-called “Strategy, Technology and Management” which represents the organic center of the produced innovation, inside a socioeconomic organism. By studying the case of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, one of the less developed regions in Greece, they present an introductory and qualitative field research. The authors outline a new possible direction for policy planning and implementation in order to expand the local business ecosystems’ innovative and competitive competence, especially in the context of a less developed region, by the usage of the ILDI (Institutes of Local Development and Innovation) mechanism. We would sincerely like to thank the authors for their contributions to this special issue. The articles offer us the opportunity to evaluate various facets underneath innovation issues within the context of different peripheral areas. We also thank all the reviewers for their commitment, and for contributing to improving the quality and reliability of the articles. Finally, our special thanks go to the Editor in Chief, Prof. Anna Ujwary-Gil, for her tireless and valuable effort in producing this journal. And, lastly, we hope that all of our readers around the world find these articles an inspiration to conduct more research on these topics in the future.