O regional no sistema regional de inovação: uma proposta de conceitualização em contextos periféricos

Abstract

A critique of studies on Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) concerns the weak conceptualization of "region". Although Brazilian literature has emphasized the issue of innovation under peripheral conditions, it offers a relatively shallow reflection on the concept of region, often assuming it as a given. Based on this observation, the aim of this article is to develop a conceptualization of the region, drawing primarily on the contributions of Milton Santos, to critically examine the understanding of RIS in peripheral contexts. The geographer's ideas provide a solid theoretical foundation, aligned with the challenges of studying regional innovation systems in the periphery of capitalism and the necessary connection between innovation policies and social demands. This work examines the meanings and implications of the concept of "region" within RIS and proposes a research method grounded in a theoretical framework.