Territorial development and innovation processes: the milieux innovateurs (creative environments)

Abstract

The paper tells of how the latest theories for explaining regionalized economic growth make much of the idea of a variable endogeny i.e. their breeding this as of themselves. Such theories point up the capacity of certain territories for generating and transmitting innovation. The author analyses one of these theoretical suggestions (milieux innovateur) which gives special attention to the territorial dynamic to innovation and the importance of this as within the territorial development process in general. The paper indeed aims at an understanding of the content of this proposition and explains that within this idea, the concepts of the feeding upon itself of innovation, reseaux d'innovation and milieux innovateurs are central. Organization is also seen to play a prime role in the innovative process. The author thus holds that, there being a link up between organization and agglomeration, it would be possible to demonstrate the relevance of territory and local variables in the process of innovation/self-renewal.