Revisiting Regional Innovation Systems: Theory, Practice, Policies, and Agenda for Brazil

Abstract

Inspired by a robust literature on national innovation systems, which emphasizes the pivotal role of innovation in the economic development process, the regional innovation systems (RIS) approach emerged in the early 1990s and has since gone through several refinements, conceptual and methodological. A fundamental aspect of this approach is the recognition that economic space and geographical proximity between the agents have significant effects both in the generation and in the dissemination of new knowledge, with important implications innovation-based regional policy. This paper aims to present a systematization of the literature on the SRI approach and, at the same time, contribute to the debate on innovation systems in Brazil. Based on a thorough literature review, the paper examines the most relevant conceptual and empirical works on SRI and, therefore, presents a wide range of obstacles and weaknesses that can hinder regional innovation. Finally, the paper concludes with a research agenda aimed at developing countries, showing the existing links between the debate on RIS and the local context in these countries.