IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Knowledge economy and spatial

development

Conference: The Future of European Regions

Warsaw, 31st May – 2nd June

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Competitiveness and Innovation in Europe

ESPON Atlas

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Differentiation of the knowledge economy

High-technology firms: Production of knowledge intensive material goods. Automobile industry; machine construction; regulation and measurement technology, chemistry

Transformation oriented services: Technology orientation; Inputs of new knowledge in products and processes. Research; engineers

Information- and media industry: Transformation of knowledge into knowledge goods. Software; databases; radio and TV; culture

Transaction oriented enterprise services: Organisation and management of firms‘ transactions. Consultants; financial services; insurances

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Economic structure in Germany – The role of the knowledge economy

Economic sectors according to employees subject to social insurances (2006)

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

selected cities

information / media

high-tech

knowledge intensive services

basic services

public administration / education /health care building

producing trades

agriculture, forestry, mining

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Change of economic structure in Germany – The role of the knowledge economy

Change of employment 1998-2006

-30,00

-20,00

-10,00

0,00

10,00

20,00

30,00

40,00

50,00

all sectors information & media transformationoriented services

transaction orientedservices

high-technology

economic sectors

%

Germany (total)

Berlin

München

Frankfurt am Main

Stuttgart

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Spatially diverse development of knowledge economy

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Selected types of knowledge economic activities: transaction oriented services

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Selected types of knowledge economic activities: high-technology industries

IRS Institut für Regionalentwicklung und StrukturplanungHans Joachim Kujath, Sabine Zillmer

Tentative conclusions

• Patents tell only part of the story of innovativeness

- Other outputs are also innovations (e.g. copyrights)

- Also e.g. innovative governance structures or strategies contribute to regional development

• Innovative economic activities need specific conditions

- Conditions depend on spatial characteristics

- Location needs of different types of knowledge economic activities vary

• Ambivalent role of innovation for regional development

- Growing importance of knowledge economy for employment

- Majority of jobs still in other sectors