Les dynamiques d’innovation des départements français : une analyse en termes de compétences

<italic>The objective of this article is to identify the determinants of the innovative performance of French regions. To do so, we first look at the research strategies adopted by regional firms, by using an original database dealing with innovative competences mastered by manufacturing companies. Then, referring to Keith PAVITT’s seminal work, we test through an econometric modelling, the respective impact on regional propensity to patent of the sectoral specificity of competences on the one hand, and regional characteristics, on the other hand. Our results validate the existence of sectoral patterns of innovation but also exhibit territorial logics in the dynamics of innovation.</italic>