| Abstract: |
Traditionally, economic geographers stress geographical proximity’s positive
impact on collaboration processes. Recently, effects of cognitive,
organisational, social and institutional proximity dimensions have been
emphasised. This paper examines the relations between geography and these
non-spatial dimensions by distinguishing two mechanisms: the substitution
mechanism, where non-spatial forms of proximity substitute for geographical
proximity, and the overlap mechanism, where geographical proximity facilitates
non-spatial proximity. The two mechanisms’ importance is analysed in
collaborative innovation projects in the Danish cleantech industry. Regression
models are complemented by a qualitative analysis of the relationship between
the geographical and institutional dimensions, which is the only relation
where the substitution mechanism is of little importance. |