The Role of Proximity in Technology Dynamics of High-Tech Industries: the Case of Biotechnology and Aviation Industries

Małgorzata Runiewicz-Wardyn

doi:10.1163/21971927-bja10025

Abstract

Abstract Confronted with new global competitive environment, rising R&D costs, growing integration of different technologies, shorter life cycles, and increased pace of innovation, high-tech companies increasingly collaborate with external partners. Innovation networks became unconditional driver of technological dynamics and growth of high-tech industries. The article aims to explore the role of proximity in innovation networks formation in the two high-tech industries – biotechnology and aviation. Both industries are characterized by different stages of technological maturity, different product life-cycles and development periods, yet both equally depend on highly specialized human capital and collaborative innovation. The article addresses the following research questions: What is the role of proximity – geographical, cognitive, institutional, organizational, social and cultural – in facilitating innovation networks formation in the above mentioned high-tech industries? What type of proximities and the related network externalities assist these industries along their life-cycles? What is the relationship between technology dynamics and innovation networks formation?

Highlights

The interest in “innovation networks” and their role in sharing knowledge and ideas, as well as stimulating inventions and innovations, have been via free accessRuniewicz-Wardyn progressively discussed (Freeman 1991; Powell et al, 1996; Hagedoorn 2002; Boschma, 2005; Boschma and Frenken, 2009; Ahrweiler and Keane, 2013)
The findings of the conducted interviews shed a light on the role what various dimensions of proximity play within the analysed innovation ecosystems, and how they help foster innovation networks
5.1 Geographical Proximity In all the three innovation ecosystems geographical proximity defined by the interviewees as close physical distance to both academic institutions and mature companies, was mentioned as a very important driver of potential innovation collaboration and knowledge spillovers via the job mobility or participation in different academic and scientific events

Summary

Introduction

The interest in “innovation networks” and their role in sharing knowledge and ideas, as well as stimulating inventions and innovations, have been via free accessRuniewicz-Wardyn progressively discussed (Freeman 1991; Powell et al, 1996; Hagedoorn 2002; Boschma, 2005; Boschma and Frenken, 2009; Ahrweiler and Keane, 2013). In the TH and QH models, as well as in the recent concept of so called Entrepreneurial University, universities abandon the old “ivory tower” paradigm, where they isolated themselves from their external environments. On the contrary, they use a synergic cooperation with industries and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders to enhance innovation, technology dynamics and society welfare. Entrepreneurial University, as explained by Etzkowitz et al (2017), builds its entrepreneurial culture on the “depth of interaction with surrounding society and business, and ability to create, interact and enhance the local, regional and national economic and societal vibrancy” (2017: 3). Rothaermel et al (2007) identifies innovation networks as one of the critical factors influencing the Entrepreneurial University and its commercial activity

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