Global Innovation Networks Research Articles

Comparing Sino-Nordic systems of higher education: ideology, institutional logics, subaltern governance, and emergent identities

ABSTRACT China is a key player in global science. Collaboration between Chinese and Western universities is critical for enhancing global networks of research and innovation. However, the potential for cooperative outcomes is currently limited by obstacles to collaboration. At the core of these challenges is the continued misunderstanding of ideology and governance between Chinese and Western higher education. Contributing to increased sub-regional understanding of higher education systems, this research provides an important Sino-Nordic comparative understanding of institutional autonomy, academic freedom, professional academic identity and organizational change. Through an empirical case-study and document analysis of macro-social ideopolitical steering logics, institutional logics, and organizational-level complexity, this research finds that within both China and the Nordics, incongruent macrosocial ideo-political steering logics deprofessionalize/politicize the academic profession through a state-driven procedural strengthening, yet substantive narrowing/weakening of institutional autonomy/academic freedom. The implications of this research should be understood within a contemporary context of limited trust and cooperation between China and the Nordics. Through a bridging view of convergent/divergent ideopolitical steering logics within respective systemic higher education contexts, and their effects on professional academic identity and agentic change, increased understanding of respective HE systems may provide avenue for increased sub-regional academic/scientific engagement and cooperation.

Contesting coercion: U.S.-China strategic competition, the middle technology trap, and Chinese government-guided funds

This study examines the possible emergence of a Middle Technology Trap (MTT) in U.S.-China strategic competition through the lens of the Global Financial Network (GFN) and the Global Innovation Network (GIN). By conducting doctrinal analysis, theoretically informed case studies, and in-depth interviews, we offer a granular study into how the U.S. has been weaponizing its leading position in the GFN to affect China’s level of participation in the GIN. Our findings reveal three U.S. tactics to induce the MTT with China: first, leveraging U.S. private equity and venture capital (PEVC) to enhance its technology advantage over China; second, pushing U.S. investors to withdraw from China’s PEVC market, thereby restricting Chinese access to American capital; and third, inducing Advanced Business Services (ABS) supporting innovation and global business to cease or reduce their operations in China, thereby increasing intermediation costs for innovation. Although Chinese government-guided funds (GGFs) have managed to partially mitigate the “funding gap” from the departure of American PEVCs, they have yet to assume the brokerage role previously played by American PEVCs in both the GIF and the GIN. As such, our study contributes to a better understanding and theoretical advancements of the MTT by linking up the scholarship of innovation and finance with financial statecraft.

Political Embeddedness of Global Innovation Networks: Addressing Health Inequalities

Political Embeddedness of Global Innovation Networks: Addressing Health Inequalities

Do global innovation networks influence the status of global value chains? Based on a patent cooperation network perspective

Under the impact of economic globalization, the internationalization of production and trade has given rise to global value chains (GVCs) and global innovation networks (GINs); however, few studies have explored the link between these two networks. This paper constructs a global innovation cooperation network based on patent cooperation data and then analyzes the impact of different network characteristics on improving global value chain status. Empirical research shows that the characteristics of GINs significantly affect GVC status; the higher the eigenvector centrality and network connectivity, the higher the country’s GVC status. Moreover, a higher degree of constraint is associated with a lower GVC status for the country concerned. The heterogeneity analysis further reveals apparent differences in the impact of GINs on different countries, manifesting as a catalytic effect in developed countries and as a disincentive in emerging economies; the effect is less apparent in developing countries. This paper provides theoretical support for the development of technological innovation activities and provides a reference for government departments to formulate policies on cross-border technological innovation cooperation.

Introduction to the Special Issue: Leveraging Global Value Chains for innovation and industrialization in Africa

The global nature of innovation has led to the emergence of Global Innovation Networks (GINs) and Global Value Chains (GVCs), facilitating knowledge exchange and economic activities across borders. GVCs offer platforms for accessing external knowledge and fostering innovation. They have evolved through three eras of innovation models: the Linear and Closed Model (LCM), the Interactive and Closed Model (ICM), and the Interactive and Open Model (IOM). The IOM emphasizes open innovation principles, intersecting with GINs and GVCs. Lessons from East Asian and Latin American countries highlight strategic practices for GVC integration, focusing on export-oriented industrialization, education, technology policies, infrastructure, and SME support. In Africa, GVC engagement spans agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors, driving economic growth, job creation, and technological advancements. To advance GVC participation in Africa, a research agenda, policy directions, and action plans are proposed. The research agenda emphasizes GVC governance, value addition, sustainability, innovation, and regional integration. Policy directions focus on infrastructure development, trade facilitation, SME support, human capital development, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth. African businesses are encouraged to conduct value chain mapping, form strategic partnerships, embrace technology, ensure quality assurance, invest in capacity building, and diversify markets to leverage the potential of GVCs for economic transformation and global competitiveness.

Unveiling the influence of global innovation networks on corporate innovation: evidence from the international semiconductor industry

In this study, we investigate the influence of global innovation networks (GINs) on the innovation output of semiconductor firms. Utilizing negative binomial regression and network analysis, we assess how network positions, specifically degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality, affect firms’ innovation performance, revealing significant positive impacts. Moreover, our results identify a positive U-shaped relationship between structural holes in GINs and innovation performance, suggesting that while moderate network engagement aids innovation, too much can be detrimental. This research provides key insights into optimizing GIN participation for better innovation results in the competitive semiconductor sector.

International connection, local disconnection: The (heterogeneous) role of global cities in local and global innovation networks

Global cities function as important international innovation hubs and are key nodes in international business networks. Yet this focus on international knowledge networks may render it less likely that global cities establish and maintain intensive local innovation linkages with their surrounding areas. We argue that while the relationship between the global network orientation of global cities and their local linkages with their surrounding areas is negative, the strength of this relationship depends global city and surrounding regions' knowledge base and the ease of local linkage formation. Global linkages are expected to be more detrimental to the establishment of local linkages if the global city is a global technology leader, but less so if the surrounding region has a greater innovation strength and is more proximate to the global city. We find partial support for these hypotheses in an analysis of the collaborative innovation linkages of 21 U.S. global cities with 310 surrounding counties, 2001–2015.

Exploring the processes and mechanisms by which nonprofit organizations orchestrate global innovation networks: A case study of the COVAX program

In cocreating value with other organizations, nonprofit organizations may face multiple management challenges, posed by multistakeholder global innovation networks. Since these have not yet been systematically studied by academics, this study explores how nonprofit organizations can promote the cocreation of value in multistakeholder global innovation networks. Adopting a longitudinal single-case study approach from the perspective of network orchestration theory, this work deeply analyzes how nonprofit organizations can promote the evolution of the global innovation network of the COVID-19 vaccine under the COVAX program. The results show that nonprofits need to successively address the dilemmas of legitimacy, direction, and heterogeneity in constructing global innovation networks and that to solve these stage dilemmas, orchestrators must successively function as network architects, liaisons, and leaders to direct the implementation of network actions using trusted, leveraged, and adapted orchestration logics. This paper further proposes a model of the orchestration process and mechanisms by which nonprofit organizations facilitate multistakeholder global innovation networks. Theoretically, this study therefore extends network orchestration theory by summarizing the mechanisms and orchestration logics by which NPOs construct and develop networks when they act as orchestrators. From a practical perspective, this study also provides guidance for future unexpected global public health crises, improving the global community's ability to combat them.

Integrating into the global innovation network and non-financial companies financialization——evidence from China-listed companies

Using the data of Chinese listed companies from 2011 to 2021, we find that integration into the global innovation network reduces company financialization, this relationship is more pronounced in the eastern region, non-technology-intensive industries, and high-digital-level companies. The mechanism test shows that the integration improves main business performance to reduce financialization. We differentiate motivations of financialization and find that the integration restrains the manager's myopia tendency to reduce over-financialization of investment substitution motivation driven and reduces financing constraints to promote moderate-financialization of “reservoir” motivation driven. Our findings enrich the literature on financialization determinants and open innovation effects among emerging markets.

ДЕРЖАВНА ПОЛІТИКА ФОРМУВАННЯ СТРАТЕГІЇ ЕФЕКТИВНОГО ІННОВАЦІЙНОГО РОЗВИТКУ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ СФЕРИ ПОСЛУГ В УМОВАХ ПІСЛЯВОЄННОЇ ВІДБУДОВИ

The article examines the key aspects of state policy aimed at forming a strategy for the effective innovative development of service sector enterprises in post-war reconstruction conditions. The main directions and measures that support and stimulate the innovative activity of enterprises, particularly through financial, regulatory, and organizational tools, are analyzed. The role of the state in creating favorable conditions for the implementation of innovative technologies and the development of entrepreneurial activity in the service sector is studied. The importance of state support in the form of grants, tax benefits, and the creation of infrastructure for innovative activities, including research institutes and technoparks, is highlighted. The peculiarities of forming development strategies for service sector enterprises in the context of post-war economic recovery are considered. Attention is focused on the need to adapt to new market conditions, the use of digital technologies, and integration into global innovation networks. Priority industries and development directions with the greatest potential for innovative growth are identified. Conclusions are drawn regarding the prospects for the development of service sector enterprises based on an innovative approach, supported by effective state policy. Recommendations are proposed for the government regarding further steps in the formation and implementation of an innovation development strategy, which will enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and ensure sustainable development in post-war reconstruction conditions.

Measuring the Global Digital Technology Innovation Network in the Construction Industry

Measuring the Global Digital Technology Innovation Network in the Construction Industry

The spatiotemporal evolution of global innovation networks and the changing position of China: a social network analysis based on cooperative patents

This study uses global patent cooperation data from 1999 to 2020, employs social network analysis, and explores the changes in and driving forces of global innovation networks (GINs) in the past 20 years as well as the change in China's position in the global innovation system. The results show that on the whole, the network accessibility of GINs has continuously improved, showing scale‐free network characteristics. The important nodes in the network are mainly developed countries such as Europe and the United States, and the node polarization effect has weakened; the network has four agglomeration subgroups. The phenomenon of subgroups and factions is not obvious. Further factor identification shows that economic factors and technological information factors have the strongest correlation with the innovation network and that demographic factors have a weaker correlation with the innovation network. In addition, China's position in the innovation network has been increasing year by year, and the role of ‘transit stations’ has become increasingly prominent.

OBJECTIVE PREREQUISITES OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTERPRISES IN UKRAINE

Introduction. The development of Ukraine’s economy under the conditions of globalization and high competitive pressure involves the use of new solutions - modern equipment, technology, forms and methods of management and production organization, that is, the implementation of innovations in order to implement the achievements of scientific and technical progress into the production and social spheres. Russia’s war against Ukraine makes significant threats to the development of domestic business. Strict conditions require an increase in the innovative activity of business entities, which helps to reduce costs, increase the efficiency of production and competitiveness of products, the transition to the digital economy and technological initiatives. Global trends, such as the emergence of breakthrough technologies, digitization and acceleration of products’ life cycle, increase the relevance of innovative development in Ukrainian business and the country’s economy in general. ased on this, innovative development is the main priority of Ukrainian socio-economic development, a prerequisite for improving the quality of products and increasing the competitiveness of domestic production. Methods. During the process of scientific research, the authors used: dialectical method of cognition, scientific abstraction, analysis, synthesis, observation, comparison, description, generalization, systemic approach. The specified methodical tools are used for: consideration of the essence and disclosure the peculiarities of enterprises’ innovative development in modern conditions; determination its further prospects in Ukraine. Results. Objective prerequisites of innovative development of enterprises in Ukraine in the context of globalization challenges are summarized. The key parameters of state support for innovative activity, the functioning of the appropriate institutional environment, the creation of an effective system of introducing innovations at the enterprise through resource, technological and market components of innovative activity are substantiated. The prospects of an innovative type of domestic business development based on foreign experience as a decisive condition for our country’s forward movement are determined. Discussion. Taking into account the current global economic and geopolitical challenges, as well as in order to eliminate the negative consequences of Russian military aggression, it is necessary to ensure the proper socio-economic development of Ukraine based on the activation of innovations. The level of economy innovativeness has become a determining criterion for each state’s readiness to join the European Union, the main goal of which is to unite the scientific and technical potential of European countries with the aim of their integration into the European and global innovation network. Therefore, further scientific developments in this field, which will have an applied nature, are extremely important.

New Path Development in a Semi-peripheral Auto Region: The Case of Ontario

The automotive industry is facing disruptive trends and great uncertainty. The path forward for automotive jurisdictions is uncertain in terms of how automakers will allocate the production of new connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AVs). The introduction of C/AV technologies creates high levels of uncertainty both for individual firms and regional innovation systems (RISs). The intersection of established production competencies with emerging digital technologies raises questions about how regional pathways and RISs develop and how local and RISs adapt to changes in global innovation networks. Building on recent contributions to evolutionary economic geography (EEG), the article examines the impact of the current technology transition on Ontario’s automotive sector. Drawing on rich empirical data and recent conceptual advances in theorizing about new path development from EEG and the literature on global innovation networks, the article casts light on how the intersection between global innovation networks and regional actors is altering Ontario’s developmental path. It examines the potential for Ontario to diversify away from its historic status as a semi-peripheral automotive region with limited investment in research and development to one with a greater role in the emerging paradigm of connected and autonomous vehicles. The article explores the potential for path diversification based on interpath dynamics between the region's auto and information and computer technology sectors as well as the importance of both system-level and firm-level agency for altering the region's developmental trajectory.

Perception of Scientific and Social Values in the Sustainable Development of National Innovation Systems

National innovation systems (NIS) are generally perceived as a set of interconnected organizations (or structures) that domestically produce and commercially implement scientific knowledge and technology. The development of any national innovation system is the key element for shaping up the scientific values in every country. Our paper identifies the trends in global innovation and technological scope associated with the formation of global economic relations, global investment, the flow of knowledge, technology, increased internationalization of R&D, and the formation of global innovation networks. In addition, it attempts to trace the relationship between instrumental values associated with the perception of science and technology and the development of NIS within the context of sustainable economic development using a case study from Russia. The paper carries out the analysis of values on the basis of the World Values Survey (WVS), as well as statistical indicators characterizing the development of the national innovation system. The obtained quantitative results stemming from our empirical model are further refined with the help of qualitative research, including the narrative economics approaches. Our results might be beneficial for the stakeholders and policymakers working with innovation policies and approaches in business, economics, and education.

PROBLEMS AND TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SYSTEMS OF AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION: REGULATORY ASPECT

The article highlights scientific approaches to the analysis of the legal framework and its compliance with the development trends of technology transfer systems of agricultural institutions of higher education on the basis of forecasting indicators of innovative development taking into account world experience. Such an analysis will make it possible to achieve efficiency in the processes of normative and legal regulation of innovative activity in the national economy and accelerate the pace of its development. The article highlights the current problems of the operation of technology transfer offices (TTOs) in Ukraine, it also analyzes the effective practices of the operation of TTOs, but they do not take into account the current problems of the economic development of Ukraine. That is why the purpose of the Article is to analyze the regulatory framework of innovative activity in agricultural universities and to study the possibilities of changing the status of these institutions in the global market of educational services and high-tech products, with the prospect of involving them in the subjects of the global innovation network. The article reviews foreign and domestic scientific works and regulations, which are devoted to the practice and experience of the most famous TTOs. Based on the analysis of the best global practices of TTOs operation, practical recommendations on the functioning of domestic TTOs were obtained considering modern realities. It was found that only a small number of technologies among a large portfolio of intellectual property objects are capable of generating significant income. The Article provides recommendations for domestic scientific institutions based on many years of experience of western TTOs.

The foundations of big data sharing: A CGIAR international research organization perspective

The potential of big data capabilities to transform and understand global agricultural and biological systems often relies on data from different sources that must be considered together or aggregated to provide insights. The value of data is however not only in its collection and storage, but largely in its re-use. Big data storage repositories are not enough when we consider a world brimming with escalating volumes of data, here we need to consider innovative systems and tools which address data harmonization and standardization and importantly, ones that can bridge the gap between science and end users. In this paper, we will demonstrate how CGIAR (including the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT) develops a culture of co-operation and collaboration among custodians of agrobiodiversity data, as well as new directions for big data. CGIAR first launched the Platform for Big Data in Agriculture to enhance the development and maintenance of its data. This helped establish workflows of cross-platform synthesis, annotate and apply the lessons learnt. The Platform then built GARDIAN (Global Agricultural Research Data Innovation and Acceleration Network)—a digital tool that harvests from ∼40 separate open data and publication repositories that 15 CGIAR centres have used for data synthesis. While there have been significant advances in big data management and storage, we also identify the gaps to improve use, and the re-use of data in order to reveal its added value in decision making.

Tied in: The Global Network of Local Innovation

In this paper we exploit a unique and rich dataset of patent applications and scientific publications in order to answer several questions concerned with two current phenomena on the way knowledge is produced and shared worldwide: its geographical spread at the international level and its spatial concentration in few worldwide geographical hotspots. We find that the production of patents and scientific publications has spread geographically to several countries, and has not kept within the traditional knowledge producing economies (Western Europe, Japan and the U.S.). We observe that part of this partial geographical spread of knowledge activities is due to the setting up of Global Innovation Networks, first toward more traditional innovative countries, and then towards emerging economies too. Yet, despite the increasing worldwide spread of knowledge production, we do not see the same spreading process within countries, and even we see some increased concentration in some of them. This may have, of course, important distributional consequences within countries. Moreover, these selected areas also concentrate a large and increasing connectivity, within their own country to other hotspots, and across countries through Global Innovation Networks.

The Geography of Innovation: Local Hotspots and Global Innovation Networks

The Geography of Innovation: Local Hotspots and Global Innovation Networks

ДИВЕРСИФІКОВАНІ ФОРМАТИ ЕКЗОГЕННОГО НАУКОВО-ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНОГО ОБМІНУ БАГАТОНАЦІОНАЛЬНИХ КОРПОРАЦІЙ

The exogenous transfer of BNP technologies under the conditions of technoglobalism plays a key role in the development of corporate ecosystems of open innovation. The main driving forces of its rapid structural dynamics in recent decades are the active development of international production by multinational firms and a significant increase in the level of its knowledge intensity. This makes it impossible for BNP to maintain its competitive leadership solely at the expense of internal company knowledge bases, sources and resources. Exogenous transfer of BNP technologies is the material basis of global processes of micro-integration of scientific and technological exchange, during which multinational firms are in the process of permanent modernization of organizational, economic and institutional forms of participation in global knowledge sharing. As the range of BNP partners involved in corporate knowledge creation chains expands, the effectiveness of functionally distinct structural components of global innovation networks increases significantly based on the diversification of sub-contractual relations of multinational firms with universities, research institutes, laboratories and centers, business schools, venture capital companies, business incubators, coworking centers, innovative companies of small and medium businesses, state institutions of standardization and metrology, etc. In the processes of exogenous technological transfer of BNP, the mechanisms of outsourcing part of corporate R&D to external independent firms, mergers and acquisitions of technological companies, their strategic alliances, venture financing, joint innovative entrepreneurship, financing of startups, etc. demonstrate the highest effectiveness. In their synergistic action, they ensure not only the systematic networking of scientific research activities of BNP and their development of global value chains in the field of research and development, but also the large-scale expansion of their innovative potential in conducting R&D in the most pioneering directions of fundamental and applied research as a guarantee of sustainable competitive leadership in techno-globalization conditions.