Embeddedness of European Regions in European Union-Funded Research and Development (R&D) Networks: A Spatial Econometric Perspective

Wanzenböck I., Scherngell T. and Lata R. Embeddedness of European regions in European Union-funded research and development (R&D) networks: a spatial econometric perspective, Regional Studies. This study focuses on the embeddedness of regions in research and development (R&D) networks within European Union Framework Programmes by estimating how distinct regional factors affect a region's network positioning. Graph theoretic centrality measures in terms of betweenness and eigenvector centrality are calculated at the organizational level to reflect the relevant network structure before aggregation to the region level. Panel spatial Durbin error models (SDEM) reveal that region-internal knowledge production capacities, a region's level of economic development as well as spatial spillovers are important determinants for a region's positioning in the European Union-funded R&D network, but their significance differs depending on the centrality concept.