Knowledge proximity and firm innovation: A microgeographic analysis for Berlin

We analyse the geographic proximity of innovative firms to different types of knowledge sources in an urban environment on a microgeographic scale. Based on a comprehensive panel data set of manufacturing and service firms in the German capital city Berlin, we investigate the characteristics of firms’ knowledge environment while differentiating by the type of innovation. Geocoded firm locations at the level of individual addresses allows us to describe the knowledge environment of firms on a very fine microgeographic scale. We find that innovative firms are located in places with higher numbers of same-sector firms, more start-ups and a higher inflow of other firms. They also locate in closer proximity to universities and research institutes. These differences decay rapidly within a few metres (50–250 m), indicating a truly microgeographic scope of knowledge sources in urban environments. 我们在微观地理尺度上分析创新企业与城市环境中不同类型知识来源的地理接近程度。基于德国首都柏林的制造和服务公司的综合面板数据集，我们在区分创新类型的基础上研究了企业知识环境的特征。单个地址层面的地理编码公司位置使我们能够以非常精细的微观地理尺度描述公司的知识环境。我们发现，创新型企业位于同行业公司数量较多、初创企业较多、其他企业流入较多的地方。它们也位于离大学和研究机构更近的地方。这些差异在数米（50-250米）内迅速衰减，表明了城市环境中知识来源地理辐射范围真实的微观特性。