Differentiated Knowledge Bases Research Articles

Coherent at face value: Integration of forest carbon targets in Finnish policy strategies

Carbon sequestration and capture have gained a central position in forest governance, alongside wood production and biodiversity conservation, resulting in calls for policy coherence and integration across the EU. While coherence is often a target in the technical assessment of the policy design, it is important to understand how incoherent policies are supported by disconnected or incongruent knowledge claims and epistemologies. We address the coherence of forest policy by analysing the content and knowledge claims in forest, bioeconomy, and biodiversity strategies of Finland, an EU member state in which forests have a strong economic, political, and cultural status. Focussing on the argumentation regarding forest carbon, our analysis shows that the policy domains remain largely disconnected and rely on differentiated knowledge bases. Despite the explicit claims about policy coherence, few genuine attempts have been made towards integration and coordination between the domains. Our analysis reveals the different logics with which climate change is to be governed, and the types of knowledge utilised and produced in the integration of forest carbon as a policy object. Our analysis suggests that policy strategies with sectoral foci facilitate incoherent policymaking due to unresolved trade-offs and knowledge disagreements. Knowledge used in the policy design and implementation processes should be discussed thoroughly, and thereby integrated.

Multi-scalar knowledge bases for new regional industrial path development: toward a typology

ABSTRACT The topic of new regional industrial path development has recently received increasing attention in economic geography. The core idea is that actors in a specific region mobilize both intra-regional and extra-regional resources, especially knowledge, to develop a new regional industrial path. However, the extant literature has not yet fully explored how actors in different types of regions mobilize different forms of knowledge at various spatial scales to develop different types of paths. To fill this gap, we establish an analytical framework combining four key theoretical concepts, that is, new regional industrial path development, regional innovation systems, differentiated knowledge bases and multi-scalar knowledge sourcing. Drawing on this framework, we propose a typology distinguishing six scenarios. To inform future research, the paper outlines some strategies to operationalize this framework and illustrates these through a brief case study.

Growth in regions, knowledge bases and relatedness: some insights from the Italian case

ABSTRACTThe present work uses an evolutionary economic geography framework to contribute to the literature on the combinatorial dimension of differentiated knowledge bases (DKB). The aim is to determine if there is a pattern of knowledge creation that does not rely on one specific knowledge base, and if the three knowledge bases require the presence of other related sectors to exploit their innovative capacity leading to the growth of the region. We apply Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabási, and Hausmann’s [2007. The product space conditions the development of nations. Science, 317(5837), 482–487.] methodology of a revealed relatedness measure between sectors, thus measuring the relatedness between the three KB and the relatedness of each KB with all other sectors (outside). The results show how, at the local level, the sectors characterized by synthetic and symbolic knowledge bases in the presence of other sectors with a high degree of relatedness are able to increase the employment growth of the area.

Identification of Knowledge Bases: The Case of the Czech Republic

This paper deals with the concept of differentiated knowledge bases, an area related to the study of the regional innovation systems. The concept explores the ways in which knowledge is involved in innovation processes and knowledge flows within and between organisations. Some limitation of this concept can be the fact that there is no clear methodology for identification of knowledge bases in regions. The aim of this paper is to propose appropriate indicators and methodology to empirically identify the knowledge base of a region. The second aim of this paper is to use this methodology for the identification of knowledge bases in the Czech regions. Based on this typology, the Czech regions are classified into four groups - those with a prevailing analytical, synthetic, analytical-synthetic, and synthetic-analytical knowledge base. The methods used for the classification include the point method and cluster analysis, which allows aggregating regions with similar characteristics. The Capital City of Prague, the South Bohemian Region, and the South Moravian Region were among the ones with an analytical base. A synthetic knowledge base was identified in the Liberec Region, the Zlin Region, and the Vysocina Region. One of the two transitional types was found in the remaining regions. In real-life practice the findings can be applied, above all, to the implementation of regional innovation policies, which should always respect the characteristics of the given region. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.27.5.14276

Constructing regional advantage in branding the cross-border Euroregion Galicia–northern Portugal

This paper employs a constructing regional advantage (CRA) approach in respect of examining the potential of joint branding strategies intended to position and give visibility to cross-border regions. The CRA concept is introduced here to improve understanding about the empirical significance of a branding strategy through cross-border relatedness, differentiated knowledge bases and policy platforms. It also aims to contribute to the academic debate on region branding. The case study focuses on the Euroregion composed of Galicia in north-west Spain and northern Portugal (GNP). Findings show that the combination of the key economic domains in which GNP excels will echo the cross-border advantage and strengthen a joint region branding strategy.

Differentiated Knowledge Bases and the Nature of Innovation Networks

It is argued in this paper that the nature of innovation networks can vary substantially with regard to the type of knowledge that is critical for innovation. Subject to the knowledge base of an industry, networks between companies can differ in various aspects, such as their geographical configuration, their structure, the type of actors holding a strategic position and the type of relations between actors. The paper comprises a conceptual discussion on social capital theory and networks, followed by a theoretically informed discussion on differentiated knowledge bases and innovation networks, which is subsequently illustrated with empirical material. The empirical analysis is based on social network analysis in association with exclusive data about patterns of cooperation and knowledge exchange in a number of regional industries located in different parts of Europe. The findings suggest that networks in analytical industries are not much constrained by geographical distance; knowledge is exchanged in a highly selective manner between research units and scientists in globally configured epistemic communities. Synthetic industries source knowledge within nationally or regionally configured networks between suppliers and customers, and within communities of practice. Symbolic industries rely on knowledge that is culturally defined and highly context specific, resulting in localized networks that are temporary and flexible in nature.

Constructing Regional Advantage: Platform Policies Based on Related Variety and Differentiated Knowledge Bases

Asheim B. T., Boschma R. and Cooke P. Constructing regional advantage: platform policies based on related variety and differentiated knowledge bases, Regional Studies. This paper presents a regional innovation policy model based on the idea of constructing regional advantage. This policy model brings together concepts like related variety, knowledge bases and policy platforms. Related variety attaches importance to knowledge spillovers across complementary sectors. The paper categorizes knowledge into ‘analytical’ (science based), ‘synthetic’ (engineering based) and ‘symbolic’ (arts based) in nature, with different requirements of ‘virtual’ and real proximity mixes. The implications of this are traced for evolving ‘platform policies’ that facilitate economic development within and between regions in action lines appropriate to incorporate the basic principles behind related variety and differentiated knowledge bases. Asheim B. T., Boschma R. and Cooke P. 构建区域优势：基于相关多样性以及不同知识基础的平台政策， 区域研究。 本文展示了基于构建区域优势这一理念的区域创新政策模型。 本政策模型整合了相关多样性、知识基础以及政策平台等概念。相对多样性概念强调了相互补充的部门间知识外溢存在的重要性。本文按知识的性质将其分类为：分析性（以科学为基础）、先验性（以工程为基础）以及象征性（以艺术为基础），不同类别的知识对于“真实”有着不同的要求。文章考察了上述分类对于“平台政策”演进的影响，平台政策有助于整合相关多样性和不同知识基础背后的基本原则，以此辅助区域内外协同发展。 相关多样性 不同知识基础 区域创新政策 区域（衍 生）分支 Asheim B. T., Boschma R. et Cooke P. L'établissement de l'avantage régional: une plate-forme économique fondée sur la variété liée et des bases de connaissance différenciée, Regional Studies. Cet article cherche à présenter un modèle de la politique en faveur de l'innovation régionale fondée sur la notion de l'établissement de l'avantage régional. Cette politique réunit des notions telles la variété liée, les bases de connaissance, et des plates-formes économiques. La variété attache de l'importance aux retombées de connaissance à travers des secteurs complémentaires. L'article classe la connaissance, par nature, sous les rubriques ‘analytique’ (fondée sur la science), ‘synthétique’ (fondée sur l'ingénierie) et ‘symbolique’ (fondée sur les arts), y compris des besoins différents pour les mélanges de proximités ‘virtuelle’ et réelle. On en esquisse les implications quant aux ‘plates-formes économiques'qui facilitent le développement économique sur les plans intra et interrégionaux à partir des actions appropriées aux principes qui étayent la variété liée et les bases de connaissance différenciée. Variété liée Bases de connaissance différenciée Plate-forme Politique en faveur de l'innovation régionale Ramification régionale Asheim B. T., Boschma R. und Cooke P. Aufbau eines regionalen Vorteils: Plattform-Politiken auf der Grundlage von verwandter Varietät und differenzierten Wissensbasen, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag wird ein Modell für regionale Innovationspolitik auf der Grundlage der Idee des Aufbaus eines regionalen Vorteils vorgestellt. In diesem politischen Modell werden unter anderem Konzepte von verwandter Varietät, Wissensbasen und politischen Plattformen miteinander kombiniert. Bei der verwandten Varietät wird der Wissensübertragung zwischen komplementären Sektoren Bedeutung beigemessen. In diesem Beitrag teilen wir Wissen je nach seiner Beschaffenheit in die Kategorien ‘analytisch' (wissenschaftsbasiert), ‘snythetisch' (technikbasiert) und ‘symbolisch' (kunstbasiert) ein, wobei an Mischungen von ‘virtueller' und echter Nähe unterschiedliche Anforderungen gestellt werden. Wir untersuchen die Auswirkungen auf die Entstehung von ‘Plattform-Politiken’, die eine Wirtschaftsentwicklung innerhalb und zwischen den Regionen begünstigen, durch eine Abbildung als Aktionslinien, mit denen die Grundprinzipien der verwandten Varietät und der differenzierten Wissensbasen angemessen berücksichtigt werden. Verwandte Varietät Differenzierte Wissensbasen Plattform-Politik Regionale Innovationspolitik Regionale Branchenbildung Asheim B. T., Boschma R. y Cooke P. La construcción de una ventaja regional: políticas de plataforma basadas en la variedad relacionada y las bases de conocimiento diferenciado, Regional Studies. En este artículo presentamos un modelo de política de innovación regional basado en la idea de crear una ventaja regional. En este modelo político se combinan conceptos tales como la variedad relacionada, las bases de conocimiento y las plataformas políticas. La variedad relacionada resalta la importancia de los desbordamientos de conocimiento en los sectores complementarios. En este artículo describimos el conocimiento según su naturaleza en las categorías de modelo ‘analítico’ (basado en la ciencia), ‘sintético’ (basado en la ingeniería) y ‘simbólico’ (basado en las artes), con combinaciones de proximidad ‘virtuales’ y reales según diferentes requisitos. Exploramos las repercusiones en la creación de ‘políticas de plataforma’ que facilitan el desarrollo económico dentro de las regiones y entre ellas, mediante líneas de acción apropiadas con la finalidad de incorporar los principios básicos de la variedad relacionada y las bases de conocimiento diferenciado. Variedad relacionada Bases de conocimiento diferenciado Política de plataforma Política de innovación regional `Ramificación regional