In the past decade there has been growing recognition that economic development is not mainly exogenously determined but, to a large extent, is a transformation process induced and governed by economic actors who respond to competitive, institutional and political challenge. This 'challenge and response' model is increasingly accepted as a valid analytical framework in modem growth theory and also explains the popularity of endogenous growth approaches to technological innovation issues. However, a major and as yet largely under-researched topic is the question of the diffusion and adoption of new technological changes in the context of space-time dynamics. This diffusion and adoption pattern has obviously clear spatial and temporal variations connected with behavioural responses which may vary over time and different locations. This means that a closer analysis of spatio-temporal opportunities and impediments is necessary in order to fully map the complex interactions of technology and economy in space and time. This volume sets out to bring together a collection of original contributions commissioned by the editors to highlight the spatio-temporal patterns and backgrounds of the diffusion and adoption of new technologies. Some are in the nature of a survey, others.have a modelling background and again others are case studies. The contributions originate from different countries and different disciplines. This book is complementary to a previously published volume on technological innovation, Technological Change, Economic Development and Space, edited by C.S. Bertuglia, M.M. Fischer and G. Preto, and also published by Springer-Verlag (1995).

First published in 1999, this volume addresses various themes in regional development studies from the perspective of structural economic change. Particular attention is paid to factors having long-run implications for regional development, such as innovation and knowledge production. Innovation and research and development activities appear to take place at particular locations. This has implications for long-run spatial and sectoral developments. Another factor is transport infrastructure; its impact on efficiency and equity is surveyed. Other themes covered relate to the role of tourism and adjustments in urban economies. The books aims to offer a balance between modelling and non-modelling approaches. In addition to country-specific contributions, some are offered at the European level.

This book argues that complexity theory offers new departures for (spatial-) economic modelling. It offers a broad overview of recent advances in non-linear dynamics (catastrophe theory, chaos theory, evolutionary theory and so forth) and illustrates the relevance of this new paradigm on the basis of several illustrations in the area of space-economy. The empirical limitations - inherent in the use of non-linear dynamic systems approaches - are also addressed. Next, the application potential of biocomputing (in particular, neural networks and evolutionary algorithms) is stressed, while various empirical model results are presented. The book concludes with an agenda for further research.

In the global information society, innovation is a highly pervasive process that influences all facets of human life: cultural, economic, political, and institutional. A desire to comprehend the impacts of innovative change on so many areas of urban life prompted the research project that has resulted in the publication of this volume. Our research confirms that we are presently in the midst of an era of rapid and explosive change. The primary engine driving this latest transformation of the post-industrial society is generally thought to be technological. But such an explanation is too narrow. Broadly speaking, the age in which we find ourselves could be more aptly described as a global, knowledge-intensive age. Many of today's knowledge-intensive activities, like research and development (R&D) programs, are being conducted with relative ease on a multinational scale. As well as science having an increasing impact on processes of innovation, R&D activities also have become more complex. We can observe a growing sophistication of learning-by-doing among creative economic agents. This more sophisticated era of global knowledge exchange is facilitated by major advances in our infrastructure networks. In this highly interactive world, many innovations are by-products of collective exchanges between cities far apart, simplified by the ease of transport and communication. Thus, there is a need for us to look more closely at various collective sequences of learning, knowledge exchange and innovation in a spatial setting. This is the primary purpose of this book.

In recent years there has been growing scientific interest in the triangular relationship between knowledge. complexity and innovation systems. The concept of'innovation systems' carries the idea that innovations do not originate as isolated discrete phenomena, but are generated through the interaction of a number of actors or agents. This set of actors and interactions possess certain specific characteristics that tend to remain over time. Such characteristics are also shared by national, regional, sectoral and technological interaction systems. They can all be represented as sets of [institutional] actors and interactions, whose ultimate goal is the production and diffusion of knowledge. The major theoretical and policy problem posed by these systems is that knowledge is generated not only by individuals and organisations, but also by the often complex pattern of interaction between them. To understand how organisations create new products, new production techniques and new organisational forms is important. An even more fundamental need is to understand how organisations create new knowledge if this knowledge creation lies in the mobilisation and conversion of tacit knowledge. Although much has been written about the importance of knowledge in management, little attention has been paid to how knowledge is created and how the knowledge creation process is managed. The third component of the research triangle concerns complexity.

Regional Science is now more than 50 years old; in the last two decades, significant advances in methodology have occurred, spurred in large part by access to computers. The range of analytical techniques now available is enormous; this books provides a sampling of the toolkit that is now at the disposal of analysts interested in understanding and interpreting the complexity of the spatial structure of sub- national economies. The set of tools ranges from the more traditional (input-output) to new developments in computable general equilibrium models, nonlinear dynamics, neural modelling and innovation.

This book presents the fmdings of a comparative study of three European metropolitan regions: Vienna, Barcelona and Stockholm. The heart of the work consists of empirical studies carefully designed and developed in order to identify the main actors and mechanisms supporting technological innovation in each of the metropolitan regions. The authors have also highlighted the similarities and differences across regions and countries, investigating how these came to be, and discussing the possible implications. The introductory as well as the concluding Chapter was written by Manfred M. Fischer who, assisted by Attila Varga, was also responsible for Chapter 2 on the Metropolitan Region of Vienna. Javier Revilla Diez contributed Chapter 3 on the Barcelona Metropolitan Region. Folke Snickars has provided Chapter 4 which examines the Metropolitan Region of Stockholm and. All authors have reviewed and commented on the whole contents so that the volume represents a collective endeavour which has been rendered as homogeneous as possible. A particular effort has been made to ensure that the study is based on a common conceptual framework.

This book consolidates under one roof the latest research investigating the various technological advances and new managerial approaches driving innovation within wine tourism. Competition in wine tourism intensifies at a global scale, while wine tourism demand continuously evolves, diversifies and becomes more sophisticated. The book highlights that innovation and technology exploitation have become not only a way to differentiate but also a survival necessity for wine tourism operators and wine destinations alike. This book includes cutting edge research about the latest technological developments and advances that revolutionise the wine tourism sector and transform the way wine tourism experiences are designed and delivered. In addition, the book includes case studies and research findings showing how wine tourism operators and destinations can nurture, support and implement innovation at various levels, including the experience, the process, the business model and/or the ecosystem level.

Spatial decisions and processes are fundamental to the understanding of spatial structure. In the earlier stages of spatial analysis proposed explanations were typically on the aggregate, phenomenological level. Now a new field has evolved and matured which calls for a deeper understanding of spatial structure with a particular emphasis on spatial decisions and processes. The present volume serves as a guide and as an anthology by discussing a wide variety of new modelling approaches, techniques and issues related to spatial decision and processes and drawing these seemingly disparate, but interlocking parts together.