Learning from past investment incidents in peripheral regions: semiconductors in Patras, Greece

摘要

This paper on recent investment incidents (Atmel) in the semiconductor industry at Patras, Greece, contributes to an understanding of historically grounded cross-regional, multiscalar economic development dynamics and contingencies. The paper articulates this by:a exemplifying the role of FDI in cross-regional knowledge based innovationnetworks b presenting a case of transatlantic investment flows and global businessoperations and multi-locational division of labour c focusing on a particular section of the 1CT industries, which according tothe literature showed long time propensity to organise in global productionnetworks d bringing into this discussion the role of nationality, public-private R&Dlinks and national-regional policy contexts.In discussing the recent post-(dis)investment history, the article also presents evidence of increasing momentum towards realising 'regional assets', initiated by historical and path-dependent development of regional knowledge institutions strengthened by previous investment episodes and the ensuing socio-institutional learning of the involved regional research and entrepreneurial community.