In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird analysiert, wie die Innovationsnetzwerke von Informationstechnologieunternehmen in Portugal räumlich strukturiert sind und welche Bedeutung räumliche Nähe für die InnovationsfŠhigkeit derselben hat. Als Ergebnis lassen sich zwei wesentliche Beobachtungen machen: Einerseits lässt sich eine deutliche Konzentration der portugiesischen IT-Branche auf die Metropolregion Lissabon (mehr als 80 %) und in großer räumlicher Nähe dazu auch zu den meisten Innovationspartnern feststellen. Es weist auf die gro§e Bedeutung von Urbanisationsvorteilen (urbanization economies) für die wissensintensive(n) Branche(n) hin und zeigt, dass im Fall kleiner und retardierter Volkswirtschaften nur eine oder wenige Regionen im internationalen Wettbewerb bestehen können. Andererseits wird klar sichtbar, dass räumliche Nähe kein hinreichender Faktor für die Innovationsfähigkeit von Unternehmen ist. Vielmehr wird deutlich, dass die IT-Unternehmen zwar untereinander und zu Ähnlich wissensintensiven Wirtschaftsbranchen gut vernetzt sind, aufgrund eines gesellschaftlich niedrigen ''generalisierten Vertrauens'' (generalized trust) aber nur unzureichend zu den traditionellen portugiesischen Industriebranchen (Textil, Bekleidung, Leder, Schuhe) Kontakt haben. Die Existenz von Vertrauen wird ursächlich durch kulturelle Einflussfaktoren wie Traditionen, weltanschaulich-religiöse Überzeugungen und gemeinsame geschichtliche Erfahrungen beeinflusst. Dies kann auch als kulturelle Einbettung (cultural embeddedness) der Wirtschaftsakteure bezeichnet werden und drückt damit aus, dass die Handelnden durch ihr Umfeld beeinflusst werden. Da ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen Bildungsniveau und generalisiertem Vertrauen statistisch belegt werden kann, eröffnet sich für Portugal die Möglichkeit, durch verstärkte Bildungsanstrengungen das gesamtgesellschaftliche Vertrauen zu erhöhen und damit den für Innovationen wichtigen Wissens- und Informationsaustausch zu intensiveren. / The present thesis analyses how the innovation networks of IT-firms in Portugal are spatially structured and what role the spatial proximity plays for the innovative ability. The following two essential conclusions can be drawn: First, there is a considerable spatial concentration of the Portuguese IT-sector in the metropolitan area of Lisbon (more than 80%) and also a clear proximity to most innovation network partners. This emphasises the importance of agglomeration economies for the knowledge-based branches and shows also that in the case of small economies only one or two metropolitan regions can survive in the worldwide competition. Second, the innovative ability of firms does not depend exclusively on spatial proximity. In fact it is clear, that Portuguese IT-firms while being well networked to firms of the same sector or similar knowledge-based branches, are insufficiently networked with traditional Portuguese branches (leather, textile, shoes). The reason for this is the low generalised trust in Portuguese society.The existence of trust is rooted fundamentally in cultural factors like traditions, beliefs and common historical experiences. This can also be described as cultural embeddedness of the economic actors. Due to the significant connection between generalised trust and the level of education, Portugal is in a position to increase its generalised trust by strengthening its educational efforts. This would increase its potential for more knowledge networks in the economy and therefore more innovation.

Purpose – Recent studies demonstrate the serious influence of social media on scholarly communication. However, scientists from academia seem to be rather carful in trying new technologies (Kaiser, Köhler, Weith 2016), with most preferring private channels first (Pscheida et al., 2013). Nevertheless, science and innovation are a public issue of wide interest. Communication is a fundamental prerequisite for transfer of information and creation of knowledge, but not sufficient to sustainably implement knowledge in society (Johnson & Chang 2000). Any innovative development from R&D needs to be published and distributed by means of communication and learning. Only if processes of learning are added relevant knowledge can be converted into actions and become effective (Larsen-Freeman 2013). Design/methodology/approach – New media technologies open up a variety of technological tools and innovative individual and organizational collaboration patterns. Does science consider such opportunities? What kind of data can be used to investigate the ICT / social media usage from a functional perspective? The authors decided to build their argumentation on two cases studies, describing the structural design of research networks, which are indeed quite similar. Therefore, the funding measure „Sustainable Land Management” as well as the research network „eScience Saxony” were considered. Both combine a series of smaller R&D projects within the context of a wider network. The data shows, however, differences in structure and scope (some projects follow a transdisciplinary approach while others do not) as well as further similarities in relation to the usage of social media. Originality/value – As a research question it is examined how actors of network projects design processes of transfer and implementation of knowledge in their project networks. For the empirical investigation, qualitative data of the two cases is obtained and evaluated systematically. The findings emphasize (1) the equality of knowledge communication and organization of joint learning experiences and, moreover, (2) similar conceptual understanding of transfer across projects. Moreover, they (3) consider similar media scenarios as appropriate. Marginally, also (4) processes of communication and learning receive attention – which are used as the operationalization of transfer and implementation in the studied networks. Practical implications – The aim of the research presented is to investigate the various effects of the research networks as a specific form of organizational intervention (Härtel et al, 2015). The authors thereby give attention to the transfer and implementation strategies from the perspective of knowledge communication, in respect of knowledge management, and use theoretical approaches from different disciplines including developmental and social sciences (Stützer et al., 2013) as well as education and organizational studies to elaborate the meaning of research and innovation networks.