Southern Germany’s innovation clusters: regional growth coalitions in the knowledge economy

This paper examines Germany’s distinctive path toward the knowledge economy, emphasizing the role of regional innovation dynamics and governance, with a focus on Southern Germany’s high-innovation clusters. Unlike other advanced economies that pivoted toward high-tech services, Germany has prioritized digital advancements within its manufacturing base, creating a model driven by smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0. We argue that regional growth coalitions, formed by firms, social partners, and local governments, foster institutional configurations supporting knowledge-based and innovation-focused competition. This regionalized governance has enabled Southern Germany to capitalize on Germany’s innovation agenda, a success that other regions have struggled to replicate. By analysing multi-scalar dynamics—interactions across regional, national, and EU levels—our study expands evolutionary economic geography (EEG) and political economy literature, challenging traditional, nation-centric frameworks. Our findings highlight that cohesive regional governance can enhance national and supranational innovation strategies, underscoring the importance of regional institutions in advancing and sustaining knowledge economy innovation.