Business services as actors of knowledge transformation: the role of KIBS in regional and national innovation systems

摘要

Over the last years, there has been a significant increase in the attention paid to the activities of knowledge -intensive business services (KIBS). KIBS produce and diffuse knowledge, which is crucial for innovation processes. The paper gives an overview of the role and function of KIBS in innovation systems and their knowledge production, transformation and diffusion activities. Focusing on innovation interactions between manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and KIBS, the empir- Ical analyses grasps KIBS position in five regional contexts.