The role of collaboration on innovation: cases from technoparks in Turkey

Studies on innovation have emphasized the role of local and regional systems, particularly spatial proximity among firms and related actors. More recently, evolutionary economic geographers have broadened this view by identifying various types of proximity. This paper explores how both spatial and non-spatial proximities influence collaboration among firms and between firms and universities. It also examines whether different types of collaboration have a positive effect on innovation performance. Technoparks offer an ideal setting to analyze how proximities affect collaboration and how these collaborations, in turn, contribute to firms’ innovation outcomes. Data were collected through a field survey in selected technoparks in Turkey, and hypotheses were tested using statistical methods. The findings show that while spatial proximity remains important, it is not sufficient on its own. Being part of a technopark highlights the importance of organizational proximity, whereas proximity to firms with a similar innovation vision underscores the significance of cognitive proximity. The strongest correlation was observed between informal collaboration and spatial proximity. Additionally, human resources significantly influence innovation, and the role and effectiveness of universities within the technopark ecosystem appear to vary.