Innovative regions and global connectivity

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Innovation is highly geographically concentrated and its spatial distribution tends to remain stable over time. However, the process of technological development still opens new windows of locational opportunity for new innovation centres to emerge around the world. What makes it possible for some cities and regions to join the exclusive ‘world innovation club’? Why are other places persistently left behind? What can public policies do to support less innovative regions?

Traditional answers to these questions have focused on internal indigenous factors at the national, regional or city level. Conversely, in this talk global connectivity and investment flows will take centre stage in explaining local innovation. First the talk will cover some new evidence on the impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the innovation performance of their host cities and regions across the globe. Second, the talk will discuss the practical problems faced by public policies when trying to actively leverage foreign companies in order to boost innovation in domestic firms in less developed regions. Some reflections on future research and policy challenges will conclude.

Prof Riccardo Crescenzi is a Full Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics where he is also affiliated with the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) and the Spatial Economics Research Centre (SERC). Riccardo is the current holder of a European Research Council (ERC) Grant. He is also an Associate at the Centre for International Development at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Taubman Centre, at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute. Riccardo has provided academic advice to, amongst others, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Inter-American Investment Bank (IADB), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and various national and regional governments. Riccardo is the 2017 recipient of the Geoffrey J.D. Hewings Award from the North American Regional Science Council.

Registration - 5.30pm

Event start - 6pm