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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2012‒07‒29
thirty-six papers chosen by Laura Stefanescu European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration |
| By: | Xavier Vence; Manuel Gonzalez |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to contribute toa better understanding of the Knowledge Intensive Services spatial distribution across the European Union(EU) regions(NUTSII), linking recent research approaches on innovation and structural change with approaches to regional economics. As a means of conducting this research, we classify economic activities according to six sectors based on their knowledge/technology intensity. Our results show that the higher the knowledge/technology content of the economic activity, the higher the concentration level of the activity. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1377&r=knm |
| By: | Markus Grillitsch; Christoph Höglinger; Franz Tödtling |
| Abstract: | The competitiveness of many of today’s industries largely depends on the ability to innovate. Innovation is nowadays regarded as a result of an open and interactive knowledge process, demanding from companies to generate, absorb and apply knowledge relying both on internal and external sources. Companies often maintain links to a large variety of knowledge sources and partner types on different geographic levels and they use different mechanisms for acquiring knowledge from these sources. In addition, the location of companies is thought to have an important impact on innovativeness through potential regional knowledge links and accessibility to interregional ones. The location of a company in a “thick” Regional Innovation System (RIS) should lead to a better performance as compared to a location in a “thin” RIS. Conceptually, the paper aims to develop a better understanding of the relationships and dynamics between internal knowledge and learning through external knowledge sourcing. The derived presumptions are tested by developing and applying a multivariate model that describes the impact of the above-mentioned factors on the innovativeness of firms. The importance of internal knowledge, the variety of knowledge sourcing on regional, national and international levels, the importance of cooperation as a transfer mechanism as well as the location of companies are identified as key determinants of innovativeness in knowledge-based sectors. The paper draws on data from the ICT sector in three regions in Austria. Overall, 110 personal interviews and questionnaires were collected from companies of this sector. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p676&r=knm |
| By: | Rita Santos; Walter Leal; Evando Mirra |
| Abstract: | The innovation systems perspective is primarily concerned with the knowledge flow and diffusion and its positive impact of stimulating economic growth. In innovation systems observed at the regional level there is a tendency of technologically dynamic production to become spatially concentrated in clusters, where individuals and organizations possessing specialized knowledge and technological capabilities. Consequently, results appear as collective efficiency, competitive advantage and economic benefits. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Brazil set up an important telecommunications cluster in Campinas region, fostered by government policies, and evolved around a telecom R&D Centre. Several small high-tech firms were established, grew, competed and cooperated with the local infrastructure and multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries. These, in turn, increased their local technological efforts and engaged in joint technological programs with local partners. In this paper the relation between innovation and knowledge is illustrated by the high-technology cluster of Campinas. It also discusses clustering enabling technology for environmental sustainability issues and regional implications. Keywords: development; knowledge spillovers; region; innovation systems; sustainability |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1539&r=knm |
| By: | Mozhdeh Taheri; Marina Van Geenhuizen |
| Abstract: | Abstract-The importance of new knowledge in innovative activities of firms and the impact of these activities on economic development of regions have been acknowledged in many studies. In particular, universities and firms that are established on university knowledge, spin-off firms, function as nodes and channels through which new knowledge is diffused into the wider (regional) economy. New knowledge is a strategic resource of competitive advantage for young high-tech firms. Of course, many of these firms are based on new technical knowledge but they may lack market and managerial knowledge and skills. An important way of learning on these different aspects is through social networks and business networks, with a local (national) and/or international coverage. Many studies have attempted to understand the characteristics of networks of young high-tech firms, but a detailed picture and understanding of the time and space dimension of models of learning relationships are rare. What may be true is that a well-developed local learning network performs as an important condition for establishing international learning relationships, indicating a stepwise model. The theory of ëborn globalsà indicates, however, international learning from the start of the firm. This paper explores the learning models of university spin-off firms, including some aspects of absorptive capacity, with a focus on various combinations of local and global knowledge networks and changes in these combinations by age of the firms. The analysis draws on a sample of 100 spin-offs from two universities: TU Delft University in the Netherlands and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim in Norway. Resource based views and organizational learning theory will be applied to design an analytical model of young high-tech firmsà shaping of learning connections and improving of innovation performance. The empirical part of the paper will include descriptive and explanatory results, the latter derived from correlation analysis. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1661&r=knm |
| By: | Roel Rutten; Irawati Dessy |
| Abstract: | The literature on trust, control and knowledge creation in seems to be moving towards a consensus. Trust is necessary to create an open atmosphere for knowledge creation while control acts as a safeguard against malfeasance. Networks that neglect either one often create less knowledge, such as new skills and products. Temporary networks, however, may have to depend more on control than on trust since their temporary nature may reduce the opportunity to develop trust. This paper contributes to the literature on trust, control and knowledge creation by empirically examining these variables in temporary innovation networks in the Eindhoven region in the Netherlands. Previous research showed that these networks contribute to regional economic development. This paper explores the mechanism through which this happens. Temporary innovation networks may lack trust in case the partners had no previously collaboration. They may therefore rely more heavily on control. On the other hand, these networks are formed with a specific purpose and may have mechanism to compensate for a lack of trust. The research question of this paper is: How do trust and control affect knowledge creation outcomes of these networks? Several factors that may affect this causal relation will be taken into account: - Previous relations among partners, - Mutual dependency among partners, - Level of agreement on project goals. The data for this research were collected in 2005. The paper develops several theoretical patterns on how trust and control affect knowledge creation among the members of the temporary networks and how this yields knowledge creation outcomes. Different levels of trust and control have different effects on the willingness to share knowledge and the use of communication modes. Control encourages formal communication that emphasizes the exchange of codified knowledge, while trust encourages informal communication that emphasizes the exchange of tacit knowledge. Both are necessary to produce knowledge creation outcomes. The paper develops several theoretical patterns that ar matched to empirical patterns derived from selected networks (cases) in the Eindhoven region. The results show that a combination of moderate control and high levels of trust produce the highest levels of knowledge creation outcomes. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p535&r=knm |
| By: | Mircea Epure; Diego Prior; Christian Serarols |
| Abstract: | Literature highlights the importance of university spin-offs and their assistance mechanisms. However, there is little evidence on how to select and operationalize the appropriate variables for assessing this type of firms. This paper provides tools to estimate and interpret the efficiency of spinoffs embedded in university-based support mechanisms. We thus contribute to the literature in at least two ways. First, we identify the specific inputs and outputs that are required by both the organisational and regional development perspectives. Second, an application considers a unique sample of spin-offs created at Catalan universities within a regional support programme. Main descriptive results indicate that many efficient spin-offs have formal technology transfer agreements and emerge from universities with more technological background. Second stage analyses show that higher levels of innovation and specific academic knowledge or experience related with the university of origin are associated with higher efficiency. |
| Keywords: | university spin-off, regional development, efficiency, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, innovation |
| JEL: | M1 R1 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:upf:upfgen:1330&r=knm |
| By: | Heike Delfmann; Sierdjan Koster |
| Abstract: | Knowledge transfer has been widely recognized as a key element of innovation that drives competitive advantage and regional development in knowledge-driven economies. In this respect the role of institutes of higher education is essential, as they generate knowledge. The vast majority of research on the topic of transferring knowledge focuses on universities. In the case of the Netherlands however, because of their binary system, colleges of higher education make up a great deal of the complete higher education system. We argue that these colleges of higher education are better suited to address the needs of small businesses than universities. Colleges have a more practical educational approach, they are closer related to the industry, which enhances their accessibility and approachability for small firms. This paper explains the difference in knowledge transfer between the two types of higher education institutes. The main goal of this research is to provide a classification of SMEs who take part in the knowledge transfer process of specifically colleges of higher education compared to universities. This paper presents the results of a recent study using a survey among small organisations in the area of Groningen, the Netherlands. Using Groningen as a case study we were able to collect data from a region with one university and one college of higher education of similar size. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p553&r=knm |
| By: | Aliye Ahu Gulumser; Tuzin Baycan-Levent; Peter Nijkamp |
| Abstract: | Creative capacity in the field of regional sciences means the capability of any region to generate knowledge and thus to achieve innovation and the diffusion of the output of the innovative activity while obtaining the viability and sustainability of this process. Although creative capacity studies mainly focus on urban regions, the late rural studies and empirical evidences showed that rural region has a great potential capacity in terms of its five components viz. knowledge; innovation; entrepreneurship; creativity; and networks. But, these opportunities have shown by a rural specific approach rather than an urban approach. On this basis, by taking into consideration these discussions in the literature, we assume that the rural creative capacity can be evaluated by the recent changes in rural regions that show the capability of rural regions to exploit its knowledge as an output. On this purpose, in this study, we aim to evaluate which component is relatively important to identify the level of rural creative capacity. Therefore, the study focuses on 60 villages from Europe and 17 villages from Turkey by deploying the data obtained from the in-depth questionnaires. This study is a first attempt at settlement level with an optimistic approach to measure the opportunities lying at the heart of rural regions. The results of the study showed that creativity in terms of traditions is the most important component in both cases while European villages have more opportunities and do not have the latent rural problems while Turkish villages are still suffering from the well-known rural problems that their capacity exists but it is very limited. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p451&r=knm |
| By: | Michaela Trippl |
| Abstract: | This paper deals with innovation activities and the pattern of knowledge linkages in the food industry located in the metropolitan region of Vienna. Drawing on 20 qualitative interviews with local companies and knowledge providers (universities and other research organisations) it is shown that in the Vienna food sector innovation has a high importance as competitive strategy. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Vienna’s innovative food companies embrace a wide range of different knowledge sources. Analysing the geography of linkages to these sources, reveals that most of them are extra-local in nature. This finding has to be interpreted against the background of an ongoing reconfiguration of the regional innovation system (RIS). Vienna’s RIS is in a process of transformation, becoming increasingly oriented on promoting young high-tech industries and providing only few impulses for innovation in older and more traditional sectors such as the food industry. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p133&r=knm |
| By: | Stefan Rehak |
| Abstract: | Knowledge generation is considered to be a collective process which requires mobilisation of number of knowledge agents. There is open debate in the literature about the role of spatial proximity for the knowledge interactions. Are proximity or distance interactions crucial for the knowledge generation? At the same time the question of the modes of knowledge governance gains on importance. If the market based knowledge interactions among firms are risky, they will require high level of investments to secure them, transaction costs will be high. In this case, such exchanges take place outside the market in other non-market structures, in principle as hierarchies (e.g. within a firm) or as hybrid contracts (e.g. long-term contracts). Turbulent and uncertain technological, business and regulatory environment in post socialist economies sharply increases the knowledge transaction costs. Due to the discontinuity in the knowledge generation processes, the economic system is characterized by high transaction and interaction costs associated with searching for economically useful knowledge in the region. Collective generation of new technological knowledge based on local intensive network interactions in post-socialist countries is a risky business from this perspective. The lack of trust among people hampers the cooperation activities and indicates potential costs emerging with opportunistic behaviour. According the main principles of transaction cost theory hierarchical organisation dominate in the governance of the knowledge processes as they are more effective to solve potential conflicts. At the same, time closed communities with a certain level of trust engaged in collective knowledge processes, may be expected as well. The empirical part of the paper is based on the case study of territorial knowledge dynamics undertaken in the framework of FP6 Eurodite research project. We are highlighting specific routes of knowledge processes in the IT sector in Bratislava region Slovakia. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p892&r=knm |
| By: | Tether, B.; Bascavusoglu-Moreau, E. |
| Abstract: | Introducing and innovating services is advocated as a means by which manufacturing firms in advanced economies can retain or enhance their competitiveness. But little is known about how manufacturers innovate services, nor about the impact of service innovation on manufacturers' performance. Using two consecutive waves of the UK Innovation Survey, this paper first examines how manufacturers innovate services, comparing this with how they innovate goods (i.e., material products) and production processes. We find that manufacturers tend to innovate services differently: R&D is found to be unimportant, whilst investments in marketing and training are found to be related to service innovation. The paper then examines the impact of service innovation on performance, in terms of innovative sales per employee and total sales per employee. We find that service innovation does not increase innovative sales but is associated with higher total sales per employee. |
| Keywords: | Service Innovation, Servitization, Innovation Survey, Multivariate Probit, Multinomial Logit. |
| JEL: | O30 O32 O40 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cbr:cbrwps:wp433&r=knm |
| By: | Madalina Tocan; Stefan Duduman |
| Abstract: | Knowledge based economy represents a new phase in the civilizations’ development, which promise a new and better way of living. This economy it is based on information and knowledge from all the fields of the economic activities and human existence and has an important economic and social impact. The achieving of a new and better way of living it can be realized thru the sustainable economic development. That is why, starting with the 1980’s there have been preoccupations at European Union level regarding policy elaboration towards a sustainable development. Thus, the sustainable development (economic, social, environmental and institutional) becomes a new strategic objective of the knowledge based economy and this new objective can be formulated as “the accomplishment of a dynamic and competitive economy, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more and better jobs and with a grater social cohesion”. The present paper it is belt on the following idea: one of the strategic goals of the European Union is to become the most competitive knowledge based economy and sustainable development is one of the key factors of the knowledge based economy |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1241&r=knm |
| By: | Stein Ostbye; Sylvain Barde |
| Abstract: | Knowledge spillovers have recently been analysed by Barde (2009) and Ostbye (2010) in a spatial general equilibrium framework. Both studies lack explicit micro foundations for the spillovers – spillovers just take place and depend on firm density. The models must therefore be seen as reduced forms that may potentially be consistent with several structural interpretations. In this paper, the aim is to go some way in offering plausible micro foundations. We consider two alternatives: knowledge dissemination through knowledge embodied in labour moving between firms following Combes and Duranton (2006) and knowledge creation and dissemination through research and development (R&D) following d’Asprémont and Jacquemin (1988). |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p794&r=knm |
| By: | Ricardo AGUADO; Jabier MARTINEZ; Miguel Angel LARRINAGA |
| Abstract: | Research, development and innovation activities have become key sources of competitive advantage, which is one of the main factors behind the wellbeing of citizens living in a given territory. Being aware of this fact, public administrations at different administrative levels have encouraged the production of innovations through different public policies. On the other hand, firms that invest in research, development and innovation usually obtain in the long and medium terms innovative products and services that allow them to compete in favorable conditions in the local and international markets. If we focus in Europe, regional disparities in the amount of innovation inputs on one side and in the amount of innovation outputs on the other side are very high. In this paper the authors will measure the productivity of research, development and innovation activities performed by all regions in the EU. In order to do so, the authors will take into account some indicators to measure innovation inputs and outputs (related to science, technology and also to collaboration among agents in innovation activities and wealth creation) at the regional level. Using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) we will measure regional productivity in the field of R&D and innovation and we will compare this productivity outcome between regions in the EU. After explaining this first DEA model, we will use the main components analysis and then cluster analysis to achieve a typology of regions regarding their productivity in R&D and innovation activities. Once the typology of regions has been described and analyzed, the paper will end with some policy recommendations for each type of region, taking into account the regional innovation systems approach to innovation understanding and innovation policy. It may be possible to establish learning processes between different types of regions, taking into account the singularity and the unique mix of assets of each region. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p412&r=knm |
| By: | Esa Storhammar; Timo Tohmo |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to clarify what factors affect the innovation activity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and especially the effect of regional factors. Innovations are seen as central phenomena on both micro and macro levels in economy. However, we know little about the formation, development and diffusion of innovations in different milieus. The different types of branch and enterprise structure might be the essential factor that accounts for regional differences in innovation activities. Many studies show remarkable differences between branches. Additionally, the resources of firms give an unequal starting point for innovation activities. Our study observed that the differences between regions were smaller than anticipated. It also found the innovation profiles in different areas to be fairly convergent. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p240&r=knm |
| By: | Nicolas Bonnet |
| Abstract: | We address the role of innovation networks on growth of territories in the Canadian space (TER WALL et BOSCHMA, 2009). We rely on an analysis of labor market areas for the period 1996 - 2008 on the basis of patent applications filed jointly by several inventors so as to develop the networks of cooperation. An analysis of such networks on the basis of these geography areas can provide some additional explanatories on the core-periphery model, which appears between the labor market areas that innovate and those that develop economically. The working hypothesis is therefore as follows. If technological change is undeniably the macro-economic factors of growth (ROMER, 1990), the level of flow of knowledge spillover between cities and particularly the degree of centrality of each of them within the collaborative network, has a differential impact on local economic development between urban areas (GORDON et McCANN, 2000). This working hypothesis is based on the observation that innovation at the local level does not necessarily lead to economic development of territories in which it operates. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1571&r=knm |
| By: | Mercedes Rodriguez; JosÈ Antonio Camacho |
| Abstract: | There is a rich debate in the innovation literature about to what extent innovation has become an international (or globalised) phenomenon, or, on the contrary, it maintains its local/regional character. As Koschatzky (2001) notes, given the fact that knowledge is commonly tied to personal capabilities; it has a clear geographical component. In the case of knowledge-intensive services (KIS) most of analyses come to the same conclusion: distance is particularly relevant when knowledge (mainly of a tacit type) is diffused. Starting from this premise, a burgeoning literature on the contribution of those knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) to regional innovation has emerged. Most of these papers adopt a national perspective, that is, analyse regions in a specific country. On the contrary, comparisons of regional features have been carried out in very few papers: Germany and the UK (Simmie and Strambach, 2006) or Germany and France (Muller and Zenker, 2001) are two examples. The objective of this paper is to take a step further and examine the distribution of knowledge-intensive services (KIS) in the European regions. For so doing we employ the data provided by the Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS) 2009. This database provides information on the innovation performance across 194 regions of the European Union and Norway. The methodology employed is known as spatial analysis and evaluates whether there are clusters in the location of KIS in the European regions, which involves three processes. First, to evaluate the existence of spatial autocorrelation by means of global statistics; the Moran’s I and the Geary’s C. Once verified the existence of positive spatial autocorrelation, it is possible to identify “clusters” of regions with high and low participations of KIS by using a local indicator of spatial autocorrelation (LISA). Finally, employing an econometric model, some potential explanatory factors for the concentration of KIS are examined. The results obtained support the hypothesis that KIS are spatially concentrated and confirm that spatial clusters are different in northern/central and southern/eastern regions. Moreover, a close relationship between location of KIS and regional innovation performance is found. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p277&r=knm |
| By: | Kingsley E. Haynes |
| Abstract: | Business support programs, represented by business incubators (BIs) and small business development centers (SBDCs), play an important role in assisting new or small firms, nurturing entrepreneurial culture, and fostering regional economic growth. For that reason, the location of these programs may interest regional planners or economic practitioners who have the incentive to create or attract these programs. Our previous studies have found that the presence of both types of business support programs is positively associated with the level of agglomeration and negatively associated with the level of business development. It is however unclear whether the local knowledge context may influence the local presence of BIs or SBDCs. This paper examines the role of knowledge in shaping the geography of BIs and SBDCs in the US using county-level data. Human capital, the university, and high technology are used as the proxies for knowledge. Their effects on the presence of BIs and SBDCs are investigated in binomial logistic regressions. We also control other county-specific characteristics by including three common factors derived via factor analysis from 27 demographic, social, and economic variables. This study highlights business support programs as the link between regional innovation systems and small or new firms. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1499&r=knm |
| By: | Axel Schaffer; Jan Rauland |
| Abstract: | There is broad consensus among economists that regions’ competitiveness heavily relies on their ability to produce innovative goods and services (Baumol 1967, Romer 1990, Grossman and Helpman 1991, Barro and Sala-i-Martin 1997, Los and Verspagen 2006). Main drivers of innovation include, but are not limited to, human and cognitive capital (Quelle), R&D expenditures (Quelle), industrial clusters and structure (Quelle) and foreign direct investments (Quelle). Most empirical studies confirm the presumed positive correlation of these inputs and regional innovativeness, measured for example by patent applications. At the same time, regions operating at similar input level show significant differences in the degree of innovativeness. These differences can, to some extent, be explained by the regions efficiency in using their available input factors (Quelle). The presented paper aims, in a first step, to identify this efficiency by using an outlier robust enhancement of the data envelopment analysis (DEA), the so-called order-α-frontier analysis (Daouia and Simar 2005, Daraio and Simar 2006), for a sample of more than 200 EU regions (NUTS 2). The findings of this model suggest that the regions’ efficiency is partly affected by a spatial factor. Therefore, the study foresees to decompose regional efficiency into a spatial and non-spatial part by introducing a geoadditive regression analysis based on markov fields. The spatial part reveals differences of the efficiency for greater areas. Regions located in efficient areas, for example, are likely to be efficient as well, since they benefit by the efficiency of neighboring regions. In contrast, the non-spatial effect gives an idea on a region’s efficiency compared to the neighboring and nearby regions. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1108&r=knm |
| By: | Javier Garcia; Marti Parellada; Néstor Duch |
| Abstract: | The challenges posed by globalization have led to a rapid increase in the demand for higher education and, at the same time, many countries are earmarking more resources and efforts to foster their population’s skills level and knowledge. Nowadays higher education is playing a crucial role in countries’ economic development. In fact, higher education is perceived as being sufficient to allow countries to compete in a globalised economy and enhance leadership in knowledge sectors. In the last decades many countries have increased the incentives for and pressures on universities to become more involved in their regions. In response, the universities have developed the so-called Third Mission whereby they collaborate with its milieu in the more direct way. The objective of this paper is to know whether the university presence contributes to encourage the regional economic outcomes. Exploiting the geographic and temporal variation in the foundation of Spanish regional universities after to 1980, we use difference-in-difference approach to estimate its effect on regional economy. The data base includes information for the total Spanish public university system. Our paper contributes to the literature on universities and economic growth, adding more specific data related with university activity. We find little evidence that university presence increases the regional economic growth. We also estimate the effect of the university activity on the creation of knowledge spillover. However, the results vary widely across different regions. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p911&r=knm |
| By: | Florian Noseleit; Rene Söllner |
| Abstract: | In this paper we study the impact of diversity on regional growth by extending the existing literature in such that we differentiate between industry diversity and human capital diversity. In order to measure human capital diversity we construct a regional measure based on individual occupational data. In fact, based on panel data for German regions we find empirical evidence that regions with higher degrees of human capital diversity exhibit higher GDP-per-capita and employment growth, as well as higher patent-output per R&D-worker. So far the empirical literature whether regional specialization or regional diversification encourage knowledge spillover and therefore promote regional growth mainly focused on the diversity of the regional industry structure and thus disregards that knowledge transmission merely occurs between individuals. This was already described by Jacobs (1969), and is also recognized by Glaeser et al. (1992) who emphasize the importance of interaction between people in close geographical distance for innovation. Nevertheless, the existing literature typically relies on the regional industry diversity as an indicator for the breadth of the local knowledge base. However, we argue that the diversity of skills and knowledge at the individual level rather than the diversity of industries reflects the scope of the local knowledge base and the potential for spillover. A more fruitful approach should therefore take a more disaggregated view on this topic by looking at the diversity of skills and abilities at the level of individuals. We apply two strategies to assure that human capital diversity is not just a proxy of the regional industrial structure. First we calculate a variable for the regional industry diversity equivalent to the occupational diversity using regional industry employment shares at the three digit industry level. Second we incorporate regional employment shares of 27 out of 28 aggregated industries as additional explanatory variables in our regression. Furthermore, skill complementarity and substitutability in production, as well as differences in the importance of knowledge spillovers should be addressed with a detailed consideration of changes in the regional industry structure. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p245&r=knm |
| By: | Antonio Cubel (Universitat de València); Vicente Esteve (Universitat de València y Universidad de la Laguna); Juan A. Sanchis (Universitat de València y ERI-CES); María T. Sanchis (Universitat de València e Instituto Figuerola de Ciencias Sociales) |
| Abstract: | In this study we analyse the effect of both foreign and domestic technological innovation on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) for Spain in the second half of the XXth century. For this purpose we estimate an extended version of Coe and Helpman (1995) model including a general human capital variable. The foreign and domestic stock of knowledge have been approximated throughout several variables such as are the stock of R&D, the stock of patents and the expenses for using foreign licenses and patents. Our results suggest that the inflow of foreign technology had a positive and significant effect on the Spanish TFP, being this effect higher than the effect of the domestic stock of knowledge. Moreover, the openness to foreign trade has also favoured the arrival of foreign technology and the increase of productivity. Finally, it is interesting to highlight that our results indicate that human capital played also a relevant role on the evolution of TFP |
| Keywords: | España: segunda mitad del siglo XX; transferencia internacional de tecnología; patentes; productividad; técnicas de cointegración |
| JEL: | N14 O33 O47 O22 |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eec:wpaper:1212&r=knm |
| By: | Edward Bergman |
| Abstract: | Difficulty in extracting scientific and research findings from EU universities and placing such knowledge at the commercial disposal of innovation-dependent firms and industries is a cause for grave concern by the European Commission and many of its member states and regions, particularly when contrasted with the notable success enjoyed by U.S. universities. A review of literature from the perspective of EU knowledge-seeking firms and knowledge-generating universities reveals a striking asymmetry: firms presently seek mainly public science outputs, while universities pursue proprietary science opportunities more heavily in their dealings with business and industry. At the same time knowledge flows are being promoted far more aggressively, universities are being totally restructured, harmonised in many respects and decentralized regarding governance and accountability. Results from a web-survey of 1798 EU academics posted in Europe’s universities listed in the Shanghai TOP 500 reveal several important findings of interest. First, EU and U.S. respondents have quite similar views of what is considered reasonable with regard to public vs. private science. The exceptions reveal a generally stronger approval by EU academicians for their universities to be more proactive regarding commercialization, particularly university support of research-based start-up firms, with some differences based on respondents’ discipline [(1) biological sciences, 2) physics, 3) computer science, 4) chemical engineering, 5) economics and 6) history]. Further investigation shows those who have already undertaken or investigated commercialization opportunities tend to approve a battery of commercialization measures taken by their universities, and those who: a. have worked on externally-funded research projects with colleagues from industry, b. see regional business leaders influencing university commercialization policies, c. are heavily engaged in public service activities, and have collaborated with industry colleagues on research projects. (submitted to Uddevalla) |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p363&r=knm |
| By: | Alexander Pelyasov |
| Abstract: | To create state of the art picture of the European regional science review of Lodz Congress papers will be combined with the materials of our previous reviews of reports from the last four Congresses, and our analysis of hundreds of papers published in the major journals of regional science for the last 10-12 years. We will characterize the peculiarities of major national schools in European regional science, its strengths and weaknesses; describe the specific intellectual manner of the major leaders of European regional science; reveal real and potential bridges between regional science and neighboring fields of knowledge - cognitive science, institutional economics in particular. In the focus of this year review will be gaps of our knowledge in Regional science and how they can be filled with our collective efforts. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p384&r=knm |
| By: | Francesco Antonio Anselmi |
| Abstract: | In the seventies the policies of regional economic development in the OECD and in Europe were joined by the correction of economic (growth rates of GDP and income unbalanced) and technical differences and by inadequate allocations of human, financial, and infrastructural resources. Regional policies were based on the following points: a)Massive financial assistance (to develop infrastructures and public services) to the poorest regions; b)Creating artificial poles of economic development at regional level; c)Creation ex-nihilo of technology; d)Attempts to keep alive in declining industries to protect local employment. After twenty years of operations the results have been disastrous, and many countries in the OECD and EU have been questioned, on the usefulness of continuing to adopt them and today has become oriented towards a new paradigm, even in light of the phenomenon of globalization,. that rests on five pillars> 1)Regional policies directed to all regions from poorer to richer. 2) Measures to mobilize all means to put in a position to maximize the opportunities for development of all regions, through the formation of territorial capital, that allows to develop a multiplier of the investment. 3) The central government must ensure the maintenance of the quality of infrastructure, of public services and an environment conducive to the development of enterprises. 4) Actions on the level of infrastructure of intangible nature. These must be related to the dissemination of knowledge (education, training) of technology and innovation, measures aimed at the development of social capital; and all measures aimed at protecting of environment. 5)A regional policy developed nationally that must be consistent with the policies put in place, in regions and cities, with the processes of decentralization of responsibility accompanied by fiscal resources for their implementation. The objective of this research is to analyse some aspects of these new pillars aimed at overcoming regional economic, technical and infrastructural disparities and to ensure sustainable development promoting new methods and practices of strategic techniques in innovations oriented in cohesion and in regional competitiveness, through a process of integration of economic, social, cultural and environmental activity. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1314&r=knm |
| By: | Pilar Beneito (University of Valencia and ERICES); María E. Rochina-Barrachina (University of Valencia and ERICES); Amparo Sanchis (University of Valencia and ERICES) |
| Abstract: | In this paper we analyze how industrial property rights (IPRs), measured by patents granted, affect competition at the industry level, and their induced effects on firms’ innovation incentives. We use for that purpose a panel dataset of Spanish manufacturing firms for the period 1990-2006. Using indicators of fundamentals of competitive pressure and factor analysis techniques, we construct a new synthetic measure of competition. Our results indicate that although the use of IPRs (in terms of industry patenting intensity) reduces market competition, it may also encourage firms’ innovation incentives (in terms of firms’ R&D expenditures and the number of product innovations). |
| Keywords: | IPRs, patents, competition, innovation |
| JEL: | D22 L10 L60 O31 O34 |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eec:wpaper:1211&r=knm |
| By: | Sabine Sedlacek |
| Abstract: | The question of how universities do stimulate regional economic development is mainly inquired in studies focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship. In these studies universities are seen as important actors within regional innovation systems (RIS). Within these RIS universities fulfill besides their training and education (human capital) function a knowledge production and transfer function. Studies on sustainable regional development are additionally focusing more and more on governance issues and the role of different stakeholders within governance networks and their ability to contribute to a more sustainable development at the regional level. Universities are important governance stakeholders, since their administrators and faculty members are eligible partners for regional governments. Here it is mainly their research capacity which is often used for expertise, e.g. to contribute to regional economic development plans. The role of institutions in fostering sustainable development at the regional level gained, especially in Europe, major importance since multi-level governance (MLG) is the number one concept in the European Union regional policy. The focus on institutional cooperation and how this network cooperation leads to a more effective implementation of sustainable development is the subject of several research agendas focusing on governance for sustainable development. There is a lack of knowledge and expertise with respect to the links between certain institutions and the broader society, and hence their ability to foster sustainable regional development. In this regard universities can serve as facilitators between societal and other institutional actors. In order to fill this gap the question of how the sustainable policy implementation process could be supported by universities acting in partnership with other institutional actors will be addressed. We will introduce an analytical framework which would allow us to test hypotheses extracted out of existing theoretical and empirical literature about universities as key actors in advancing sustainable development. The goal is to filter both factors enhancing sustainable development and obstacles and barriers that are hindering sustainable development. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p851&r=knm |
| By: | Dimitrios Ierapetritis; Dimitrios Lagos |
| Abstract: | The development of business and innovation potential in the countryside depends on the availability of sufficient structures providing knowledge and skills on new technologies, while the most effective training process for farmers is an education based on the principles of experiential learning and adult education. The aim of this article is, based on the results of a nation-wide research addressed to farmers, instructors and head trainers, to explore and submit specific proposals for the reinforcement of entrepreneurship in the Greek countryside. More specifically, the aims sought through the results of this research, which was conducted among five hundred and ninety (590) trainee farmers, three hundred and twenty (320) instructors and fifty-eight (58) head trainers, are to bring forward the main attributes of farmers who wish to engage in entrepreneurial activities of the secondary and tertiary sector, to explore the aspects of the educational and administrative resources in the Greek countryside, to reveal their educational needs for successful business ventures and finally to put forward specific proposals both for promoting farmers’ education and for the support of farmers who wish to enter the business field. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1510&r=knm |
| By: | Martin, B.R. |
| Abstract: | This article examines the origins and evolution of the field of science policy and innovation studies (SPIS). In particular, it seeks to identify the key intellectual developments in the field over the last 50 years by analysing the publications that have been highly cited by other researchers. Along with other studies reported in this Special issue, it represents one of the first and most systematic attempts to identify and analyse the most influential contributions to an emerging field on the basis of highly cited books and articles. The analysis reveals how the emerging field of SPIS drew upon a growing range of disciplines in the late 1950s and 1960s, and how the relationship with these disciplines evolved over time. Around the mid-1980s, SPIS started to become a more coherent field centred on the adoption of an evolutionary (or neo-Schumpeterian) economics framework, and an interactive model of the innovation process, and (a little later) the concept of 'systems of innovation' and the resource-based view of the firm. The article concludes with a discussion of whether SPIS is perhaps in the early stages of becoming a discipline. |
| Keywords: | innovation studies, science policy, history, evolution, highly cited publications, key contributions |
| JEL: | O30 O31 O32 B25 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cbr:cbrwps:wp432&r=knm |
| By: | Karl Wennberg; Karin Hellerstedt |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the contextual conditions affecting the entry, growth and exit of knowledge intensive firms. On the aggregate or regional level, entry and exit are often intimately related. We suggests that the entrepreneurial process by which individuals engage in the start, the growth, and the exit of a firm is strongly path-dependent. Second, based on the importance of initial conditions at the regional level, we present empirical analysis on how characteristics of the economic milieu of regions influence firm births. The data material provides information on all knowledge intensive start-ups across the 286 Swedish municipalities between 1994 and 2002. We present an empirical model that captures both supply- and demand-side factors, with a specific emphasis on the demand side. We address the imperative role of initial conditions during firm founding, as these are strongly emphasized by I/O economics, organizational ecology, and entrepreneurship research alike. We describe and explain the substantial variation in start-up rates across municipalities and over time. The paper advanced econometric analysis where we use a number of variables derived from our theoretical framework to formulate and test a model of regional start-up rates. The model is tested on separate samples of services firms and manufacturing firms, yielding interesting results that are in line with the theories of organizational ecology and economic geography, but with somewhat stronger results for start-ups in services. Analyses of firm growth an survival further shows that the factors present during founding are strongly path-dependent, but differ for medium-growth and high-growth firms, and for firms exiting by closure and firms exiting by merger. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p1585&r=knm |
| By: | Ghafele, Roya; Gibert, Benjamin |
| Abstract: | This paper outlines and evaluates several intellectual property monetization strategies available to patent holders in developing countries that help generate domestic innovation and knowledge-driven growth by promoting more active technology markets. Based on a review of World Intellectual Property Report indicators, the patent ownership gap between a sample of developed and developing countries has narrowed gradually for more technologically-sophisticated developing countries. However, based on complementary International Monetary Fund Balance of Payments data, the patent commercialization divide (as indicated by licensing income) has been widening. The paper argues that patents, and all forms of intellectual property, are an enabling mechanism rather than a defensive right: an intangible asset class that can be proactively nurtured and managed for greater value extraction to stimulate knowledge-based entrepreneurship and growth in developing countries. The paper presents multiple case studies of alternative monetization strategies to address the commercialization divide. These strategies range from private, market-driven options to those requiring a greater amount of public policy support: from patent securitization and patent exchanges (focusing on the United States-initiated Intellectual Property Exchange International and the Shanghai Silicon Intellectual Property Exchange), to the strengthening of technology transfer and commercialization infrastructure (focusing on the experience of the Association of University Technology Managers and Taiwan, China's Intellectual Property Rights Institute), to patent litigation support (including South Korea's support of patent infringement lawsuit costs for small and medium enterprises). The paper also highlights areas where further policy research would be helpful. |
| Keywords: | E-Business,Technology Industry,ICT Policy and Strategies,Debt Markets,Real&Intellectual Property Law |
| Date: | 2012–07–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6143&r=knm |
| By: | Marie Van Looveren |
| Abstract: | The region of West Flanders scores rather low in Flanders on a number of economic indicators, such as innovation, and a number of education-related indicators such as the intake in higher education and the participation in scientific education. In order to change this situation, initiatives were taken by the province in order to reinforce the higher education as well as the socio-economic position of the region based on thorough scientific research. On the basis of the cluster theory by Porter, highlighting the importance of thematic clustering of research and socio-economic activities, analysis is made of the strengths and weaknesses of the socio-economic field as well as of the available research expertise in the higher education institutions; this in close collaboration with the socio-economic partners and employers/employees from the various provincial sub-regions. It resulted in a growth plan containing several thematic spearhead actions. In the elaboration of the growth plan, emphasis is laid on the coherence and mutual reinforcement of the entire innovation chain going from knowledge development to knowledge application and spreading. A concrete initiative contributing to the realization of this plan are the easily accessible expertise and services centres (LEDs) set up on the initiative of the province. Thematically, they complement the expertise present in the higher education institutions and meet the actual needs of small and medium entrepreneurs in the region. Entrepreneurs or organizations can appeal to the network for innovation questions and they can leave the elaboration to research groups. Both partners are in a win- win situation: the entrepreneur who often does not have the means for R&D can innovate after all and the research groups in the higher education institutions are given the possibility to accumulate and develop their scientific knowledge. It is clear that a close collaboration between higher education and the socio-economic field has a surplus value for both actors. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p72&r=knm |
| By: | Stefan Luethi; Alain Thierstein; Michael Bentlage |
| Abstract: | We assume that the territory of Germany is experiencing a reorganisation of functional division of labour in favour of the knowledge economy. New forms of network economies and functional differentiation between cities and towns can be observed. The increasing importance of emerging network economies has introduced new lines of thinking about space, place and scale that interprets regions as unbounded, relational spaces. The key aim of the paper is to set out a theoretical context and then to empirically investigate the functional polycentric patterns and interlocking networks of Advanced Producer Services (APS) and High-Tech firms on different spatial scales. We start from a conceptual background that brings together the location behaviour of multi-branch multi-location firms with a world city network approach. The analytical building blocks are 338 Functional Urban Areas in Germany, including adjacent agglomerations in Germany’s neighbouring countries. Based on this methodological approach, the paper looks at the extent to which the functional urban hierarchy within the German space economy is associated with different special scales and economic sub-sectors. Interim results provide evidence that the German territory can be regarded as a hierarchically organized space economy in which only few agglomerations establish substantial international connectivities and economic strength. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p120&r=knm |
| By: | Carlota Perez |
| Abstract: | This article argues that the conditions for innovation by and for the poor have changed considerably in the last four decades in ways that can be related to the paradigm shift in technology and to the resulting changes in behaviour of the major corporations. It suggests that innovation studies and evolutionary economics should consciously and constantly pursue an understanding of such changes by fully incorporating history in the interdisciplinary mix. In essence it holds that evolutionary thinking needs to strike an appropriate balance between universal and changing truths, especially when studying innovation with a view to making policy recommendations. |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tth:wpaper:42&r=knm |
| By: | Goodridge, Peter; Haskel, Jonathan; Wallis, Gavin |
| Abstract: | This paper provides an update of the NESTA Innovation Index and tries to calculate some facts for the 'knowledge economy'. Building on the work of Corrado, Hulten and Sichel (CHS, 2005,9), using new data sets and a new micro survey, we (1) document UK intangible investment and (2) see how it contributes to economic growth. Regarding investment in knowledge/intangibles, we find (a) this is now 34% greater than tangible investment, in 2009, £124.2bn and £92.7bn respectively; (b) that R&D is about 11% of total intangible investment, software 18%, design 12%, and training and organizational capital 21% each; (d) the most intangible-intensive industry is manufacturing (intangible investment is 17% of value added) and (e) treating intangible expenditure as investment raises market sector value added growth in the 1990s due to the ICT investment boom, but has less impact on aggregate measures of growth in the 2000s. Regarding the contribution to growth, for 2000-09, (a) intangible capital deepening accounts for 26% of labour productivity growth, against computer hardware and telecommunications equipment combined (16%) and TFP (-0.4%); (b) adding intangibles to growth accounting lowers TFP growth by about 18 percentage points (c) capitalising R&D adds 0.04% to input growth and reduces ΔlnTFP by 0.02% and (d) manufacturing accounts for 47% of intangible capital deepening plus TFP. |
| Keywords: | growth; innovation; intangibles |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:9063&r=knm |
| By: | Imre Lengyel |
| Abstract: | More and more scholars of regional science are interested nowadays in the question what role do clusters in city-regions play in the knowledge-based economy. This question can be dealt with from the functional or nodal regions point of view and one has to examine the factors that influence regional competitiveness. The answers are especially important for the Hungarian city-regions, since between 2007 and 2013 they are aimed with significant subsidies from EU regional development funds to improve their competitiveness. In this paper we outline our analytical framework: the pyramid model of regional competitiveness. After this the paper assesses the competitiveness types of the Hungarian functional subregions, as city-regions (LAU1). A complex methodology, with the help of multi-variable data analysing methods, is used throughout our statistical analysis to underlie the classification of city-regions. For the clusters mapping in these regions we apply the location quotient (LQ) method. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa10p313&r=knm |