Co-operation over distance? The spatial dimension of inter-organizational innovation collaboration

In the literature, there is a controversy about the role of space in innovation collaboration. With a longitudinal study of 47 inter-organizational innovation groups in Germany, we examine the link between the spatial composition of group members and group characteristics that are important to perform innovation projects. Hence, conceptually and methodologically, we use social-psychological concepts in the field of spatial economics. We find that the share of regional partners is per se not a determining factor for the formation of a functional working group with the necessary characteristics to be successful. But very often regional groups are small and show shortcomings in their partner structure.