THE ASYMMETRIC KNOWLEDGE PROBLEM, REGIONAL INNOVATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

This contribution examines issues of managing complexity arising from the growing globalisation, knowledge-dependence and externalisation of production of goods and services in the modern economy. Unusually, it focuses on the activities of economic governance agencies elaborating enterprise support mechanisms by brokering ‘regional innovation systems.’ As the ‘knowledge economy’ has evolved, making the value of research knowledge from small and medium-sized enterprises and universities, in particular, of far greater value than hitherto, governments have promoted regional innovation system-building in recent years. However knowledge demands mean heightened complexity from the crossing of boundaries among ‘epistemic communities.’ Managing knowledgeable interactions in environments that demand greater and greater innovation is eased but not entirely overcome by means of Digital Knowledge Flow Platforms (DKFP). Some reference is made to cases of DKFP evolving in practice in economic governance organisations, later and in distinctive ways from methods utilised by firms.