regional innovation strategies need to reveal the reasons why the neighbouring area is a good partner for collaboration in this field whether due to complementarities in areas of specialisation cost differentials in labour or land markets common interests in branding etc however if there are few opportunities for firms to collaborate with other firms universities or technology transfer offices on the other side of the border then forcing collaboration will only waste resources in the north of england withincountry crossregional efforts sought to build greater critical mass and political power