The Godfathers: Characteristics and Roles of Central Individuals in the Transformation of Techno-Regions‪.‬

Introduction Success factors for technology-based economic transformation are of concern to many regions as they try to find or renew their distinctive competitive positions. Many successful techno-regions have benefited from a single individual who sustained the regional vision, was the primary source of creative strategies, and whose name never fails to be mentioned when his region is being discussed. Table 1 names several such "godfathers." Not just ordinary innovators, these godfathers have led dramatic and complete economic transformations in their regions.