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Spatialization Patterns of Translocal Knowledge Networks: Conceptual Understandings and Empirical Evidences of Erlangen and Frankfurt/Oder

In this paper, we outline a perspective on the spatial levels of the organization of high-tech innovations. By contrasting two innovation networks in very different socio-economic regional set-ups—one prospering like in Erlangen, one stagnating like in Frankfurt/Oder—the article presents empirical results of different spatial knowledge formations. We will apply a relational notion of space on the way firm-based strategies are able to acquire external knowledge. The main question is: how do companies in high-tech innovation contexts deal with difficulties of acquiring and organizing external knowledge? Empirically driven results reflect on the possibilities and restrictions of translocal knowledge-transfer with respect to distinct regional context conditions. The point of departure of this article is Faulconbridge's attempt to conceptualize translocal knowledge networks “stretching beyond a local fix” (Faulconbridge, J. (2006) Stretching tacit knowledge beyond a local fix? Global spaces of learning in advertising professional service firms, Journal of Economic Geography, 6, pp. 517–540). Taking into account that innovation-oriented networks extend beyond the firm, the city's administrative ground, person-based social interaction abilities, we will argue for new conceptual understanding of the notion of space as introduced by Coe and Bunnell ((2003) “Spatializing” knowledge communities: Towards a conceptualization of transnational innovation networks, Global Networks, 3(4), pp. 437–456). Knowledge workers and their communities are considered to represent the desired and much needed contextual “innovation climate” in urban-regional settings. At the same time, these “long-distance-connections” are of great importance for gaining access to different knowledge forms and expertise. So this paper starts with the assumption, that “learning at a distance” can be as important—and sometimes even more important—as local face-to-face contact when it comes to the question, how to generate new ideas and innovation in the field of high-tech-production. Two contrasting cases within the high-tech sector (Erlangen and Frankfurt/Oder) allow for drawing subordinate conclusions to new forms of gaining external knowledge.