Regional knowledge creation in China, India and the US. Lessons for European regions

Our analysis is one of the first to present a systematic, cross-country quantitative analysis of territorial innovation systems. We deploy new panel data sets to explore both the geographical patterns of knowledge generation, and the range of forces and factors shaping these outcomes. In this way we are able both to explore country-specific factors in detail, and to explore commonalities and differences across the EU, China, India and the US. Our approach adds value for EU policymakers in three ways. First, it enables us to isolate factors shaping knowledge generation and development in different context. In turn, this helps the EU site its own leading and lagging regions. Second, we ‘capture’ both the emergence of new actors in technological competition as well as existing leaders – helping EU regions identify external competitors and opportunities. Third, our analysis supports policy transfer from the EU to non-EU partners. The text is organised into sections, as follows. In Section 11.2 an in-depth analysis of the spatial distribution of patenting activity, by country, region and key technology fields (information and communication technologies (ICT), biotech and nanotech) is pursued. Section 11.3 reprises our conceptual framework, which informs the quantitative analysis that follows, and sets out our model and data sources. Section 11.4 gives results of the quantitative analysis, both for China, India and the US and an integrated analysis across these three countries and the EU. Section 11.5 provides brief conclusions and policy lessons.