Micro-Geographies of Information and Communication Technology Firms in a Shrinking Medium-Sized Industrial City of Ostrava (Czechia)

Jan Ženka, Luděk Krtička, Lenka Paszová, Tereza Pundová, Kateřina Rudincová, Simona Šťastná, Veronika Svetlíková and Jan Matula
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Jan Ženka: Department of Human Geography and Regional Development, University of Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Luděk Krtička: Department of Human Geography and Regional Development, University of Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Lenka Paszová: Department of Human Geography and Regional Development, University of Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Tereza Pundová: Cultural Centre- Ostrava-Jih, 700 30 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Kateřina Rudincová: Department of Human Geography and Regional Development, University of Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Simona Šťastná: Department of Human Geography and Regional Development, University of Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Veronika Svetlíková: Department of Regional and Rural Development, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Jan Matula: Autocont a.s., 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-26

Abstract: We aimed to explain the spatial distribution of information and communication technology (ICT) firms in the city of Ostrava as an example of a medium-sized, shrinking, polycentric industrial city. The primary research question was to what extent micro-geographic location factors affect the current spatial clustering of ICT firms in polycentric cities characteristic by relatively weak urbanization economies and mostly routine character of ICT activities. We analyse and test the effects of the urban form at the level of urban blocks and individual buildings (considering their height, technical condition, age and dominant function) on the clustering of ICT firms of various sizes and ownership statuses. The inquiry was based on a detailed field mapping (using ArcGIS Collector) of ICT firms and physical/functional characteristics of the buildings and their immediate surroundings. ICT firms are significantly spatially concentrated in the historic city centre and inner city. Spatial patterns of ICT firms focused on less knowledge-intensive, routine and/or lower value-added functions do not differ fundamentally from innovative firms developing new products. Preference of denser, walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods in urban cores/inner cities can be found in the group of firms focusing on routine functions: rather for larger than for smaller firms and domestic than foreign-owned firms.

Keywords: localization; hubs; cities; urban morphology; ICT firms; micro-geography (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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