Technological districts and the financing of innovation: opportunities and challenges for local banks

The paper deals with the role that local banks (especially credit cooperative banks) might play in financially supporting the development of technological districts and innovative firms. After introducing the concept and features of technological districts, it focuses on the relations between districts and local banks and between the adoption of innovation and local banking. The central part is an econometric exercise aimed at measuring the weight of high value financial services over the income of a sample of Italian credit cooperative banks. Taking into account the cultural, managerial and organizational requirements of local banks, the work provides insights into how this category of banks can promote innovative financial services to help the development of high-tech districts and maintain a competitive position in relation to the larger banks.