This study analyzes the action of the ‘space’ variable on the technological transfer activity, matching the traditional space approach (physical distance) to the modern one (interactions).

The aim of this piece of research is double:

1. Build indicators, using the two above mentioned approaches, for measuring and studying how the dynamics of technological transfer on territory
2. Assess the indicator reliability by checking the Hagerstrand proximity effect
3. Apply the indicators to cases of study for describing the additional information supplied in the phenomenon analysis.

The indicators built were named Space Center of Gravity of the Technological Transfer (BASTT), Interactive Density Index (INDI), Spatial Attractiveness of Technological Transfer (ASTT); Force and Potential of Technological Transfer (FTT and PTT). data from ten Institutes of the Italian National Council of Research present in Piedmont, an industrialized region in the North-Western part of Italy, were used in order to check item 2 assessments.

The results pointed out high values of attractiveness and intensity of the technological transfer activity of institutes located in industrial districts, a symptom of the environment dynamism issued from the successful technology-institutions-territory trinomial that creates knowledge spillover and external economies.

Moreover the indicators passed item 2 test and the empirical analysis has shown the reduction of the technological transfer proximity effect of some R&D Institutes; the cause of this strange phenomenon can be explained by what has been called the magnetic effect. The technological flow follows the companies in the spatial delocalization activity, creating in this way a larger spatial attraction with productive specialization areas born far away from the research center, compared with the near ones.