Combined and Complex Mode of Innovation in Regional Cluster Development: Analysis of the Light-Weight Material Cluster in Raufoss, Norway

This chapter introduces the concept of combined and complex innovation (CCI). The concept intends to describe complex innovation processes in regional clusters, where different kinds of knowledge are combined in innovation activities. The combination occurs inside firms and in collaboration between firms and knowledge organizations found in and beyond the regional cluster. The conceptualization of the CCI mode builds on main arguments in the regional innovation system (RIS) literature, which underline that complex innovation processes most often include collaboration among many different actors (such as different kinds of firm and research organization) in order to solve technological, organizational, and other challenges. Different kinds of knowledge are used and combined in innovation processes, and collaboration and knowledge flow are stimulated by geographical and other types of proximity (Boschma, 2005). The combination of the different types of knowledge is, thus, a complex process as it includes actors in different firms and organizations, who need to develop cognitive proximity. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.