Innovation in non-metropolitan regions: a review of the literature

It is increasingly recognised in regional science and innovation studies that non-metropolitan regions have been overlooked in innovation studies, leading to calls for more innovation studies focusing on these types of regions. This paper argues that a clear inventory of the current state of knowledge on innovation in non-metropolitan regions is required to provide a solid foundation for future innovation research in these regions. Underpinned by this argument, the purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on innovation in non-metropolitan areas published in scholarly journals between 1998 and 2016. This review provides valuable insights for advancing innovation research in non-metropolitan regions by highlighting: (1) the authorship characteristics of scholars publishing this research; (2) the design used; (3) the scope of this research; (4) the methodologies and (5) the themes discussed.