Organisations and regional innovative capability: the case of the chambers of commerce and industry in Germany

Wolfgang Maennig, Michaela Ölschläger and Hans-Jörg Schmidt-Trenz
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Michaela Ölschläger

Environment and Planning C, 2015, vol. 33, issue 4, 811-827

Abstract: Spatial innovation models focus on the region and highlight the social and economic interactions of the actors as a main factor in regional innovative output. This paper examines the role of German chambers of commerce and industry (CCIs), which could be relevant for the innovation process through: (1) moderating or founding regional and local (innovative) initiatives; (2) creating and maintaining formal and informal networks; (3) building reputations and providing references; (4) providing information and advisory services; (5) conducting final examinations in vocational training; and (6) founding educational institutions. The empirical analyses show a positive impact of CCI expenditures on the number of start-ups and the number of patents, as well as a positive impact of seminar and information day participation on the number of start-ups. The results lead to the assumption that the network effect (functions 2 and 3) plays a more important role than providing pure information and advice (function 4).

Keywords: innovation; chambers of commerce and industry; organisations; regional competitiveness; start-ups; patents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envirc:v:33:y:2015:i:4:p:811-827

DOI: 10.1068/c12201b

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