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Table 1 Knowledge bases framework (modified from Asheim & Gertler 2005; Asheim et al. 2011)

From: Reflections on the innovative city: examining three innovative locations in a knowledge bases framework

Description and indicator

Analytical (focusing on science base)

Synthetic (focusing on engineering and applied sciences)

Symbolic (focusing on arts and creativity)

Reason for knowledge production

Developing new knowledge by scientific principles (causality and to know “why”

Appling and combining existing knowledge into a new product or service (integration and to know “how”?)

Producing and creating meaning and significance: desire, aesthetic, symbols and meanings (giving meaning and to know “who”?

Use of knowledge and development of ideas

Deductive; Causality; modelling

Problem solving and targeted production (custom); induction

Creativity and uniqueness

Actors involved

Internal and external collaboration between research units

Interaction between customers and producers. Involves learning processes.

Experimentation and artistic and creative work

Knowledge types

Codified knowledge, universality, abstract

Partially codified, strong tacit element, recognizes context

Strong context and case specificity, interpretation, cultural knowledge

Importance of spatiality

Meaning is location free and small variation

Meaning varies between locations and location specifics have an importance

Meaning varies between observers and socio-economic conditions

Examples of outcomes

Biochemistry products, medicine development

Product engineering, interface design, manufacturing

Cultural products, branding and images