Combinatorial knowledge dynamics, innovative performance, and transition studies

Cross-domain research and development has prevailed in regional transformation and disruptive innovation in the last 15 years. Recently, a new concept, termed combinatorial knowledge bases (CKBs), offers insights into combining knowledge dynamics and is considered a good approach to explore recombinant innovative activities. Here, we review the literature on CKBs in Western economic geography, and we introduce a research agenda for CKBs in China's economic geography. Concerning the latter, four aspects are elaborated: the co-evolution of the innovation chain and industrial chain, the geography of innovative activi-innovative entrepreneurship and new path development, and innovation system reconfiguration. This paper contributes to theoretical studies of China's geography by linking CKBs to Chinese-specific phenomena.