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Using data on patent applications, this paper provides systematic evidence of how the existing regional knowledge base, and in particular specialisation in fossil fuel technologies, affected both initial and subsequent regional diversification into cleantech knowledge production in European regions between 1987 and 2010. Results confirmed the assumption in evolutionary economic geography that technological relatedness enhances regional diversification into cleantech. Contrary to what is often assumed in the transitions literature, no indication whatsoever was found that a specialization in fossil fuel technologies hampered cleantech knowledge production in European regions. Some clean technologies even partly developed out of fossil fuel knowledge. These empirical results suggest the need for a more heterogeneous socio-technical regime concept which facilitates new technology developments in some dimensions but hinders it in others.
Berge et al. (Sat,) studied this question.