Location, agglomeration and innovation: Towards regional innovation systems in Norway?

Abstract The theoretical part of the article examines the concept of regional innovation systems against the background of modern theories of innovation. The view of interactive learning as a fundamental aspect of the innovation process provides the ground for an interactive innovation model, which is greatly facilitated by geographical proximity and territorial agglomeration. The empirical part analyzes geographical variations in innovation activity in Norwegian industry, as well as examining more thoroughly innovation performance in two industrial agglomerations in Norway. On the basis of the theoretical clarification and empirical analyses carried out, the article finally discuss how to design a regional innovation policy for three main area types in Norway.