Cross-Border Regional Innovation Systems
Summary
Cross-border regional innovation systems (CBRIS) are structured networks of firms, research institutions, government bodies and intermediary organisations operating across adjacent national territories. They aim to generate, diffuse and apply knowledge to drive regional competitiveness and sustainable development on both sides of a border. Such systems contend with specific challenges—divergent regulations, cultural and linguistic differences, institutional gaps and logistical barriers—while leveraging unique opportunities arising from complementary assets, comparative advantages and cross-border complementarities. Key functions include the co-creation of knowledge, alignment of policy instruments, coordination of financing streams and the orchestration of collaborative platforms. Recent shifts in global value chains, the acceleration of digital technologies and the imperative for green and resilient growth have heightened interest in fostering integrated innovation spaces that transcend national boundaries. Practical applications range from joint technology parks and innovation clusters to harmonised education and training programmes, all of which seek to reinforce regional cohesion and stimulate local employment, productivity and social inclusion.
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Cross-Border Regional Innovation Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in cross-border regional innovation systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cross-border regional innovation system (CBRIS): A networked configuration of actors and institutions that collaborates across national frontiers to generate, diffuse and apply knowledge for regional economic and social development.
Proximity: Dimensions of closeness—geographical, cognitive and social—that facilitate interaction, trust building and the effective transfer of knowledge among innovation actors.
System failure approach: An analytical framework identifying bottlenecks and mismatches within innovation systems, guiding policy measures to correct coordination, infrastructure or institutional deficits.
Border functions: The dynamic roles played by international boundaries—as interfaces, identity markers or symbolic divides—that shape patterns of cooperation and competition in cross-border regions.
Innovation partnership: Collaborative alliances among firms, universities, public agencies or brokers aimed at pooling resources and expertise to co-create new products, services or processes.
References
- Cross-border tourism and innovation system failures. Annals of Tourism Research (2024).
- Bringing borders back into cross-border regional innovation systems: Functions and dynamics. Environment and Planning A Economy and Space (2022).
- Repeating partners and partnerships in European Territorial Cooperation: a quantitative analysis. Regional Studies Regional Science (2023).
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