The impact of EU-funded research networks on knowledge diffusion at the regional level

Research networks foster the dissemination of innovation-related knowledge. To address this conjecture, we evaluate the structure of collaborative networks and of knowledge transfer between research, innovation and deployment activities in the field of information and communication technology for the European Union as a whole and for several European regions. We find that research networks complement diffusion networks by increasing the number of links and organisations involved in exchanging knowledge. Two types of actors are key players in these networks: hubs maintain the bulk of ties in the networks also helping the smaller and more isolated members remain connected; gatekeepers bridge research and diffusion networks.