Macher’s New Working Paper Explores How Pioneer Regions Shape Global Innovation
Posted in News News - Digital Economy | Tagged News - Digital Economy
Jeffrey T. Macher’s working paper, “Does Early Regional Scientific Leadership Translate Into Lasting Innovation Advantage?” explores the long-term impact of early scientific leadership on regional innovation. By studying 24 emerging technologies across thousands of OECD regions over 20 years, Macher and his co-authors find that regions with an early lead in scientific research—termed “pioneer regions”—gain a significant and growing innovation edge over non-pioneer regions. This advantage is especially prominent in “super-cluster” regions, which excel in both scientific research and related innovation activities. The study underscores the critical role of early scientific leadership in sustaining long-term regional innovation, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to boost technological advancement through strategic investment in foundational research.