Combinatorial knowledge dynamics, innovative performance, and transition studies

Cross-domain research and development has prevailed in regional transformation and disruptive innovation in the last 15 years. Recently, a new concept, termed combinatorial knowledge bases (CKBs), offers insights into combining knowledge dynamics and is considered a good approach to explore recombinant innovative activities. Here, we review the literature on CKBs in Western economic geography, and we introduce a research agenda for CKBs in China’s economic geography. Concerning the latter, four aspects are elaborated: the co-evolution of the innovation chain and industrial chain, the geography of innovative activiinnovative entrepreneurship and new path development, and innovation system reconfiguration. This paper contributes to theoretical studies of China’s geography by linking CKBs to Chinese-specific phenomena.