Firms and Territories in Innovation: Lessons from the Italian Case

This paper describes the theoretical framework and results of the first systematic survey carried out in Italy on firms patenting at the European level. The goal is to present the Italian geography of innovation and the social logics that govern it. The paper focuses on the role of territory, organizations and networks in the processes of innovation. The key assumption of the study is that firms ’ and territories ’ “potential for patenting depends on their skill in the “social construction ” of innovation. In other words, it depends on the effective integration – through social networks – of firms ’ human and social capital on the one hand, and of collective goods and resources from the local (and non-local) context on the other. Research results confirm the importance of the territory and external economies (material and immaterial) for the growth of innovative firms. In fact, the study of socio-spatial contexts shows the importance of infrastructure and local collective goods for the leading systems in high tech and machinery sectors. This characteristic distinguishes them clearly from the weakest areas in terms of capacity for patenting