This article investigates the interplay between scientific and technological capabilities in regional technological diversification dynamics by looking at the contributions of academic inventors. Combining the evolutionary economic approach and the theories on regional innovation capabilities on the one hand, and the distinctive features of academic inventors and university–industry patenting on the other, we hypothesize that the participation of university-based inventors to local patenting activity positively influences the chance of regional technological diversification and mitigates the path dependency engendered by the constraining role of the technological relatedness. In addition, we hypothesize that academic inventors tend to push regional technological trajectories towards their portfolio of specializations, hence allowing a process of technological convergence. The empirical results highlight the key role of academic institutions in the development of new regional technological trajectories while contributing to the academic and policy debate on regional diversification strategies.

中文翻译：

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学术发明家对区域技术多元化的贡献：意大利的证据


本文通过考察学术发明家的贡献，研究了区域技术多元化动态中科技能力之间的相互作用。一方面结合演化经济方法和区域创新能力理论，另一方面结合学术发明人和大学-产业专利申请的显着特征，我们假设大学发明人参与当地专利活动对当地专利申请活动产生积极影响。区域技术多样化的机会，并减轻技术相关性的约束作用所产生的路径依赖。此外，我们假设学术发明家倾向于将区域技术轨迹推向他们的专业组合，从而实现技术融合的过程。实证结果强调了学术机构在新的区域技术轨迹发展中的关键作用，同时促进了有关区域多元化战略的学术和政策辩论。