1 ISSN: 0718-2724. (http://www.jotmi.org) Journal of Technology Management & Innovation © Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Facultad de Economía y Negocios. J. Technol. Manag. Innov. 2013,Volume 8, Issue 2 1 CEF.UP, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Porto; INESC Porto; Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-464, Porto, Portugal Tel: +351225571214; Fax +351225505050; E-mail: ateixeira@fep.up.pt 2 Tomorrow Options; UPTEC – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Actor Ferreira da Silva, 100, 4200-298 Porto, Portugal; Tel: +351 220 301 596, Fax: +351 220 301 569; E-mail: p.santos@tomorrow-options.com 3 Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-464, Porto, Portugal; Tel +3512255712206 Tel: +351225505050; e-mail: apaula@fep.up.pt Received February 2, 2012 / Accepted April 5, 2013 International Regional Patterns of R&D Networks Involving Low Tech SMEs Aurora A.C. Teixeira 1 , Paulo Santos 2 , Ana Paula Delgado 3 Abstract A large number of studies have emphasized the spatial proximity of economic activity and its relation to the spatiality of knowledge creation in various types of connections. Far less attention has been paid to the understanding of the determinants of ‘cultural’ and geographical proximity in international R&D cooperation projects involving SMEs and the role of the quality of the Regional Innovation System (RIS). Using a database of completed European Cooperative Research projects, we conclude that: 1) technologically more complex projects are more likely to involve ‘culturally’ and geographically distant partners; 2) RIS related variables determine ‘cultural’ proximity but not geographical proximity; 3) at first sight surprisingly, international cooperation projects involving the 1st promoters of innovation-led regions (high patent propensity and high human capital levels) are culturally more distant. Keywords: Regional innovation system; cooperation; innovation; SMEs; CRAFTs.