Local Innovation Ecosystem Research Articles

Academic Governance and Innovation Ecosystem in Chongqing: The Impact of Local Policies on R and D

In order to improve the level of academic governance in Chongqing and build a good innovation ecosystem, this paper carries out correlation analysis from the perspective of local policies and research findings and obtains first-hand data in the form of questionnaires. Then, the internal relationship among academic governance, innovation ecosystem, and overall development of R&D is found, and the following assumptions are put forward. Academic governance in Chongqing can promote the improvement of the R&D level, and the innovation ecosystem is the objective environment for the development of R&D institutions in Chongqing University. Local policies, academic governance, and innovation ecosystem are the influencing factors for the development of R&D institutions. The results show that academic governance and innovation ecosystem will promote the development of R&D, and local policies are the main influencing factors, which will play a directional role in the normal development of R&D. Therefore, local governments should formulate academic governance policies and create a good normal environment for innovation.

Role of innovation culture and post-Soviet mindset as factors determining speed of economic development in a small open economy: Case of Latvia

This research seeks to identify the value of a few common factors determining the speed of economic growth in Baltic states and analyzes their impact in detail on Latvia’s lagging. Latvia’s economic starting point after regaining independence because of the collapse of the Soviet Union was at least comparable to its neighbors. Still, after the implementation of liberal reforms towards a free market’ economy and 20 years of operation as an EU full member, Latvia is lagging in growth, prosperity, and innovation. Within the analysis, this scientific paper pays special attention to the three less discussed factors, namely, the impact of post-Soviet mind-set effects as a part of local innovation culture, lasting since regaining independence in 1991; the importance of the availability of talent pull, its density, diversity, and accessibility; and readiness and capability to capture external knowledge and technology adoption. The overall approach is the systemic assessment of the national innovation system and/or innovation ecosystem, trying to understand the differences between these two models. Research is performed by analysis of the performance of the local innovation ecosystem in connection with export- and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies. The authors present a novel method for visually representing economic growth and its application in analyzing process development within transitional economic nations. The study uses an analytical and synthetical literature review. It offers a new GDP data visualization method useful for monitoring economic development and forecasting potential economic crises—the outcomes from aggregative literature analysis in a consolidated concept are provided for required talent policy proposals. The post-Soviet mindset is seen as a heritage and devious underdog that has left incredibly diverse consequences on today’s society, power structures, economic growth potential, and the emergence of healthy, well-managed, and sustainable innovation ecosystems. The post-Soviet mindset is a seemingly hidden and, at the same time, an intriguing factor that has a significant impact on the desire to make and implement the right decisions related to innovation, education, and other policies promoting business development. The key outcome of the article is that sociocultural aspects and differences in innovation culture led to a slow-down of Latvia’s economic growth compared to Estonia’s and Lithuania’s slightly more successful economic reforms.

Drivers and barriers for open innovation for sustainability in a shared semiconductor infrastructure

A shared-use semiconductor research infrastructure can be studied as a local innovation ecosystem consisting of the infrastructure operating company and the user companies. The level of open innovation for sustainability activities possible to initiate in the infrastructure is affected by the operating company and the user companies. This study focuses on developing a conceptual framework for analysing the drivers and barriers for open innovation for sustainability in the research infrastructure. The research is done as a qualitative multiple case-study in the local semiconductor ecosystem in Otaniemi, Finland. We find out that the level of understanding and ambitions related to sustainability are diverse in the different user companies. Many factors can be considered both as drivers and barriers for open innovation for sustainability depending on the context and the companies’ ambition levels. The sustainability of a shared-use infrastructure is a complex topic that requires further research to better understand how open innovation for sustainability related activities can be brought forward in such an ecosystem. The study contributes to the current understanding of open innovation for sustainability by recognising the role of shared-used research infrastructure in innovation processes within the local ecosystem.

Financial decentralization and third-Mission outputs: A comparative study of Higher Education contexts in Brazil and the United States

Third Mission (TM) drives universities to a purpose beyond their traditional role, especially in local socioeconomic and innovation ecosystems. To investigate the issue, we consider an exploratory and comparative study of two different governance systems of public universities (Southeast Brazil-region 1 and Texas-US-region 2). The comparison took into account data from international universities' rankings performance to address TM and the structure of financial sources to address financial decentralization. The available evidence seems to suggest a positive association between the level of financial decentralization and the capability of the system of HE to deliver TM outputs. Universities under decentralized governance structures, which permit more autonomy to manage their resources, presented better results in most selected TM indicators. These findings reinforce the general belief that the governance arrangements that allow exploring synergies within local business ecosystems are more appropriate for ensuring organizational changes in the direction of entrepreneurial action.

What makes an entrepreneurial university? Institutional moderators of ecosystem impacts in a developing country

Abstract Entrepreneurial universities have become a key concept in debates concerning regional economic development. Yet, we still fall short of having a clear comprehension of the enablers of such localized impacts arising from academic activity. Such conditions are particularly critical for the context of developing countries, which have mostly mimicked initiatives taking place in the context of developed markets. To address these issues, we analyze the impacts generated by research-intensive universities on local innovation ecosystems. We apply a combination of econometric and case study methods for the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Results suggest that research-intensive universities, mostly public universities, positively impact their respective innovation ecosystems. Moreover, qualified research funds and the existence of a support structure (incubators and science and technology parks) significantly enhance the impacts generated by research-intensive universities. These findings highlight the relationship between the internal constraints of universities and their capacity to generate impacts on local ecosystems.

Strengthening Local Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

The complex adaptive systems that produce and sustain local innovation and entrepreneurship in particular geographic contexts are known as local innovation systems and entrepreneurial systems and, from a perspective informed by ecology, as local innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Over the past decade, scholars and practitioners have increasingly focused on clarifying what these systems are and why they are important for local and regional economic development. There is relatively scant scholarship, however, focused on describing how to strengthen these systems, in terms of specific processes for developing missing or weak system components, improving the relationships between components and clarifying the purpose of the system. This paper describes an approach to innovation ecosystem strengthening developed from case studies of successful sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial ecosystems in the United States, and how this approach was adapted and applied to an online ecosystem-strengthening process in Accra, Ghana. Drawing on programmatic data and a post-project survey, we find that the approach achieved its primary objective of developing and launching an ecosystem-strengthening initiative, indicating its applicability beyond the context in which it was developed. However, we also identify that ecosystem capacity strengthening effects were weaker than predicted and conclude that this type of ecosystem-strengthening process is best suited to in-person work.

Key aspects of establishing research, knowledge, and innovation‐based hubs as part of the local innovation ecosystem

The purpose of this research is to increase the understanding of the principles of forming different types of hubs as spaces for collaborative R&D and innovation. This article offers valuable new knowledge regarding the establishment of hubs as part of the local innovation ecosystem. The paper will, through a qualitative multiple case study, shed light on the research issue of the establishment of hubs through an analysis of empirical data collected from three different types of hubs: a research hub, knowledge hub, and innovation hub. As a result, we introduce new building blocks of hubs to support managers and practitioners in forming collaborative hub structures.

Sustainability Strategies by Oil and Gas Companies, Contribution to the SDGs and Local Innovation Ecosystems

Oil and gas (O&G) companies are facing increasing pressure to transform their businesses in order to contribute effectively to the transition from an economy based on fossil fuels to one driven by clean energy technologies. Understanding how O&G companies can define actions to comply with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, specifically, how they can generate a positive impact in terms of sustainability through technology innovation becomes relevant in order to guarantee the success of such transformation. To explore this issue, this article analyzes, using a case study research methodology, the sustainability strategy of an O&G company in the Basque Country region (Spain) that is undergoing a profound transformation of its overall business strategy. In particular, the analysis focuses on how the company’s innovation and research and development (R&D) activities and projects related to clean technologies contribute to fulfilling the energy- and non-energy-related SDGs. The main result of the analysis is the identification and characterization of an emerging complex public–private multi-stakeholder business and innovation ecosystem surrounding the O&G company under scrutiny with a clear focus on low-carbon technologies. This ecosystem channels knowledge and innovation synergies and spillovers at the local and regional levels, encouraging green industrial growth in different value chains, and provides insights about how O&G companies can contribute effectively to the SDGs and, at the same time, increase the sustainability of their businesses.

FOREIGN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF UKRAINE: PRE-WAR TRENDS AND CURRENT CHANGES

Introduction. In a globalized world, foreign economic processes have a significant impact on the state of the national economy. The level of integration into global value chains changes the level of development of the business environment and the structure of the economy. The publication analyzes Ukraine's international trade activity in 2018-2021 and its current state. Ukrainian companies ensure integration into global value chains. However, the low degree of processing of export-oriented goods remains a significant problem. The study of current trends in Ukraine's foreign economic activity is relevant for overcoming current challenges and identifying key growth priorities. Purpose. The aim of the article is to study the volume and structure of export-import operations and foreign trade processes of the Ukrainian economy within the framework of global value chains (GVC). Research methods. The article uses the methods of analysis and synthesis, systematization and generalization, abstraction, data presentation, and formal logic. Results. The study confirms the positive dynamics of Ukraine's foreign trade in 2018-2021. Ukrainian companies export mainly low value-added goods and import high value-added goods. The development of Ukraine's economy requires successful integration into global supply chains. This is possible if we move from exporting raw materials to increasing the volume and depth of their processing in the national economy, and further exporting high value-added goods. The study showed that economic relations between Ukraine and its trading partners demonstrate a significant increase in foreign trade within global value chains. Ukrainian companies are involved in the development of global integration processes mainly in sectors that consume agricultural products, metallurgy, and IT-services. Agricultural and industrial products exported from Ukraine account for about 40% of total international sales. Against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale military invasion, a negative trend is the decline in Ukraine's foreign trade turnover by almost 30% (exports by 35% and imports by 25%). The largest decline in exports occurred in the metallurgical and chemical industries. The share of agricultural products in exports increased, while the share of fuel, equipment, and vehicles in imports increased. Conclusion. Foreign economic activity determines the business activity of business entities, their integration into the system of international economic relations, and creates essential preconditions for the transformation of the national economy, improving the living conditions and living standards of the population. Ukrainian exports are dominated by a high share of intermediate goods used as raw materials for the production of other final consumer goods. Therefore, it is advisable to stimulate deep processing of raw materials in the domestic market, the finished products of which can become competitive on the foreign market. With Ukraine's integration into global and regional business services in the context of global value chains, it is possible to ensure positive effects from foreign economic activity. The basis for successful integration into global value chains is to stimulate the development of international cooperation between enterprises on global business platforms, as well as local innovation ecosystems that will facilitate the creation of innovative industries, both through public and private investment. Keywords: global (regional) value chains, foreign economic activity, exports, imports, foreign trade balance, foreign trade, innovations.

University and Community: An Essential Partnership for the Future

"The last three decades have witnessed a growing body of literature on the changing role and functions of universities. Concepts such as the ‘engaged university’ ‘multiversity’ and ‘university as a complex enterprise’ have been discussed and evaluated by academics and practitioners. More recently, scholars have also turned their attention to the role of universities within the framework of local innovation ecosystems. The current research investigates how, through a variety of engagement related functions, universities can foster social, economic, and technological development in the cities that host them. The analysis is based on qualitative research conducted in both U.S. and Romania with key respondents from universities. In addition, for Romania the authors have also included main findings from their experience as consultants for the city of Cluj-Napoca for strategic planning activities."

Academic Scientists Mobility: The Hidden Pipe of Tacit Knowledge Transfer from Academia to Industry

Knowledge transfer (KT) from academia to industry is critical to support economic growth and to contribute to a local open innovation ecosystem. Research on university-industry knowledge transfer (UIKT) mainly focuses on codified knowledge. However, the vast majority of knowledge produced by academia is tacit and, in some cases, cannot be made explicit thus remaining embodied in individuals. Building on knowledge management theory and social network theory, this article proposes that socialization occurs in two forms, weak and strong socialization, and that strong socialization is needed for tacit UIKT. We propose that professional mobility of PhD graduates is an instrument to measure tacit UIKT. Through a database of the PhD graduates of a large pluridisciplinary European university, our results show that fields hardness and applicability have a positive effect on tacit UIKT and that alignment with national industrial specialization and free-movement policies influence tacit KT to the national industry. We contribute to knowledge management theory by exploring academic scientists’ mobility as a pipe of tacit UIKT as well as by extending the concept of socialization from intra-organizational to inter-organizational settings, by proposing the concepts of weak and strong socialization, and by showing how strong socialization and tacit UIKT depend on knowledge, industrial and political dimensions.

A Study on Factors Affecting the Economic Performance of Regional Innovation Systems in Europe

모든 국가는 지역 균형성장과 함께 4차 산업혁명 시대에도 대비해야 하는 과제를 안고 있다. OECD가 강조해온 지역정책과 산업정책을 결합한 지역기반의 혁신성장전략이 주목받는 이유다. 국내에서도 클러스터 기반의 지역혁신시스템이 여러 곳에서 태동·발전하고 있으나 개선해야 할 점들이 적지 않다. 이러한 맥락에서 EU가 추진해온 ‘스마트 전문화 전략(RIS3)’과 유럽의 지역혁신시스템은 우리에게 정책적 시사점을 줄 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 EU의 스마트 전문화 전략(RIS3)을 살펴보고 혁신성과를 조절변수로 한 위계적 조절회귀분석을 실시하여 유럽 지역혁신시스템(RIS)의 경제성과에 영향을 주는 요인을 규명하였다. 분석 결과 지역혁신시스템은 혁신성과와의 조절효과를 통해 경제성과에 유의한 영향을 주며, 여기에는 지역혁신시스템을 구성하는 4개의 요소가 모두 필요함을 확인하였다. 또한 ‘지역혁신역량’과 ‘지역 거버넌스’는 혁신성과와의 상호작용을 통해 경제성과에 유의한 영향을 미치는 반면, ‘기업 역동성’과 ‘협력 및 상호작용’은 혁신성과의 조절효과가 입증되지 않았다. 이는 유럽의 많은 낙후 지역에서 ‘기업 역동성’과 ‘협력 및 상호작용’이 아직 혁신성과와 연계되지 못하고 있음을 뜻한다. 기업 역동성과 협력 및 상호작용이 혁신성과와 어우러져 지역경제 활성화에 기여하려면 개방적이고 역동적인 혁신생태계가 필요하다. 본 연구의 시사점은 첫째, 정책의 우선순위를 지역혁신역량의 강화에 두어야 하고, 둘째, 경제주체들이 참여하는 효율적인 거버넌스를 구축해야 하며, 셋째, 기업 역동성과 협력 및 상호작용이 혁신성과와 연계되도록 역동적인 혁신생태계 조성에 꾸준히 노력해야 한다. 넷째, 지역혁신시스템의 고도화 및 역동적인 혁신생태계의 구축은 하루아침에 이루어지지 않는다. EU와 회원국들이 오래 전부터 민간 주도의 개방화된 스마트 전문화 전략을 지속적으로 추진해온 이유도 바로 여기에 있다.All countries have the task of preparing for the 4th industrial revolution along with regional balanced growth. This is why the regional-based innovative growth strategy that combines regional and industrial policies that the OECD has emphasized is drawing attention. In Korea, cluster-based regional innovation systems are growing in various places, but there are many points that need to be improved. In this context, the ‘smart specialization strategy (RIS3)’ promoted by the EU and the regional innovation system in Europe can give us many policy implications. In this study, EU s smart specialization strategy (RIS3) was examined and the factors affecting the economic performance of 280 European regional innovation systems were identified by using hierarchical adjustment regression analysis with innovation performance as a moderating variable. As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the regional innovation system (RIS) had a significant effect on economic performance through the moderating effect (interaction effect) with the innovation performance. This study also confirmed that the economic performance of the regional innovation system is improved when the innovation performance is high, and that four elements(‘Regional innovation capacity’, ‘regional governance’, ‘business dynamism’, ‘cooperation and interaction’) constituting the regional innovation system are necessary to improve the economic performance. In addition, it was confirmed that regional innovation capacity and regional governance brought a significant difference to the economic performance of the regional innovation system through the interaction with the innovation performance. On the other hand, the direct effects of corporate dynamism and cooperation and interaction on economic performance were confirmed, but the moderating effect of innovation performance was not confirmed. This means that many underdeveloped regions in Europe have not yet been able to link corporate dynamism, cooperation and interactions with innovation activities. In order for corporate dynamism and cooperation and interaction to contribute to vitalization of the local economy, an open and dynamic innovation ecosystem must be created. The policy implications of this study are: First, the priority of policy should be placed on strengthening regional innovation capabilities. Second, in order for the regional innovation system to be successful, efficient regional governance in which all economic actors participate should be established. Third, continuous efforts should be made to create an open innovation ecosystem so that corporate dynamism, cooperation and interaction can be linked with innovation performance. Fourth, the advancement of regional innovation systems and the establishment of a dynamic innovation ecosystem cannot be achieved overnight. This is the reason why the EU and its member states have been continuously pursuing private-led open smart specialization strategies for a long time.

Patterns of collaboration for technology transfer in Spanish universities

ABSTRACT Universities are relevant actors in research and development (R&D) and, increasingly, in innovation. These institutions play a significant role in the generation and transfer of scientific and technical knowledge. They may also adopt an orchestration role, in order to combine diverse national and international sources of knowledge through collaboration networks that can enhance their ability to transfer it to industry and society. In this paper, we seek to demonstrate that, if this pattern is confirmed, larger benefits can be achieved and translated into better performance and greater impacts on the development of local innovation ecosystems. Using data on patents granted to universities by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from 1990 to 2017, we study the technological performance of Spanish universities to illustrate how collaboration patterns affect the relative impact on their innovative activities. Our contribution identifies a dual complementary and geographically dispersed pattern of collaboration in the evolution of universities’ technological performance, while the existence of public-private partnerships and the generation of international linkages are found to be prevalent factors (even dominant over R&D).

СТРАТЕГУВАННЯ ПОВОЄННОГО РОЗВИТКУ НОВИХ ГАЛУЗЕЙ ПРОМИСЛОВОСТІ

The article studies the role and approaches to strategizing the post-war development of innovative activities in the industrial sector. It was determined that the emergence of new industries that supply innovative high-tech products is an integral part of the qualitative technological restructuring of the national industry, which is able to lead the Ukrainian economy in the post-war period along the vector of long-term economic growth. The experience of developed countries, which due to differences in approaches to supporting the innovative activities (highly coordinated – in Germany and low-coordinated – in Great Britain and the USA) and the characteristics of the institutional environment, had uneven success in creating strategic industries, was considered. The inflexibility of labor relations and the active promotion of the development of the local innovation ecosystem along with the implementation of a number of large-scale programs such as "BioRegio" allowed Germany to strengthen the position of innovative entrepreneurship in the field of biotechnology over time. In Great Britain, the biotechnological industry, due to the lack of government regulation and support for start-ups, has deteriorated its position on the world market. Developing countries, Brazil and China, demonstrate the need to implement a comprehensive strategy for growing new industries. Partial solutions and insufficient incentives in Brazil have become the reason for inhibiting the development of high-tech goods markets. And thorough planning in China gradually pushes new industries in their innovative development. Recommendations have been developed for the formation of tasks and the use of separate tools for strategic planning of the post-war recovery and industrial sector restructuring in Ukraine. They include strategizing the development of new industries during military operations, the introduction of technological innovations, state innovative procurement of domestic defense and civil developments, international production cooperation with partners from the main markets – the EU, the Middle East, the USA, Asia, and the use of a number of state industrial policy instruments to stimulate the scaling up of production and exports of new industries, as well as attracting investments and highly qualified personnel.

GOVERNANCE PROPOSAL FOR AN INNOVATION CENTER INSERTED IN A REFERRED ECOSYSTEM

As an important economic and social transformation strategy that has been adopted throughout the world, the formation of local innovation ecosystems constitutes a network of cooperation in favor of local development through the innovation economy formed by different types of actors. Among these actors, innovation habitats stand out, in particular, innovation centers that bring together in a single location several mechanisms, programs and other habitats in one place, and can thus become an epicenter of innovation ecosystems. However, depending on the degree of maturity of the ecosystem, the management and integration of an innovation center may have certain difficulties in its execution, therefore, this article presents a governance model, called hive, based on the case of the innovation center Jaraguá in Maceió/AL, recently launched within an ecosystem still under construction. At the end, a unique new look at the governance of an innovation center in a reference ecosystem is launched, demonstrating its main obstacles, strengths and how the flow of knowledge is developed in it.

Let nine universities blossom: opportunities and constraints on the development of higher education in China

ABSTRACT China’s pursuit of global superpower status compels the country to make coordinated efforts across numerous sectors. Global leadership in higher education is one example and provides a case study in how resource support and strategic vision can generate ‘quick wins’ in reputation and rankings. The ascendancy of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Fudan University, among others, has positioned China to attract top-tier faculty and supports local innovation ecosystems through collaborative research capacity. However, universities with global visibility account for only a fraction of China’s university enrollment, and reputational stagnation among universities outside the elite ‘C9 League’ has implications for regional economic development, geographic diffusion of innovation, and workforce competitiveness. This article offers explanations for why China has not developed a cadre of globally competitive non-elite universities in the same vein as many Western countries. Issues explored include the institutional and political contexts of university governance, national strategic focus on high-visibility institutions, near-exclusive emphasis on KPIs measured by university ranking indices, and concerns about academic freedom and their cooling effects on research and faculty recruitment.

Local innovation ecosystem: structure and impact on adaptive capacity of firms

ABSTRACT Focusing on the Local Innovation Ecosystem in Hauts-de-France region (France), the aim of this paper is to analyse how the ecosystems affect firm’s adaptive capacity. First, we show these local innovation ecosystems are based on Innovation Parks. They promote knowledge development and innovation processes by bringing together heterogeneous agents such as research laboratories, technological structures, finance organisations, brokers, start-ups, and companies within a complex interacting and strategic context. Second, we use econometric models to test the impact of these local innovation ecosystems on the innovativeness and technological diversity of firms viewed as components of adaptive capacity. Our results show that firms belonging to local innovation ecosystems centred on innovation parks are both more innovative and more technologically diversified than others. Our study suggests further empirical research in order to specify links between the most relevant characteristics of the innovation ecosystem and the firm’s adaptive capacity.

Contributions from entrepreneurial universities to the regional innovation ecosystem of Boston

Objective of the study: the objective of this research is to analyze how entrepreneurial universities in the Boston region, USA, contribute to the local innovation ecosystem. Methodology / approach: used was the qualitative paradigm, classified as a multiple case study and with data collection through semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observation. For analysis used for strategic content analysis. Originality / relevance: this research aims to contribute to society and dedicate itself to reflecting on the role of the university in modern society. The entrepreneurial universities provided a relevant research field, since this model of academic institution presented economic and social potential for regions where it is located. Main results: as contributions by universities to the ecosystem: training of technologically selected students; building an entrepreneurial mindset in students; research groups with a multidisciplinary character; collaborative research groups with industries and companies; research groups for requested demands; competitions that include extra-university students; formation of start-ups with business model validation; contribution to economic development through the application of financial resources received and contribution to social development by fostering the development of the region. Theoretical / methodological contributions: this study helps to identify the elements that make up an entrepreneurial university in a joint analysis of six universities in the Boston region; to characterize Boston's innovation ecosystem, which deals with branding an item for the university segment and to identify the set of actions and infrastructures connected as entrepreneurial universities to the ecosystem.

As Agtechs e o Ecossistema de Inovação do Espírito Santo

Objective: to identify the most relevant incentives available to agtechs - also known as agritechs or agrotechs; the challenges they face to reach the scalability phase; and the relationship of these challenges with possible limitations of the local innovation ecosystem. Methodology/approach: the data were collected through qualitative research and examined using the content analysis technique. Main results: (1) the entrepreneurs of the interviewed Agtechs identified different market demands and opportunities; (2) the agtechs relied mainly on support, through incubation and mentoring; (3) these nascent companies had greater difficulty in the prototyping stage, in the identification of resource sources, and the formation of a team, which indicates the need to expand support and offer ecosystem solutions in this direction, as well as to facilitate the access to investors; and (4) the Espírito Santo’s innovation ecosystem still presents a series of challenges so that it can fully fulfill the role of encouraging, in a structured way, startups called agtechs. Theoretical/methodological contributions: the results obtained demonstrate the need for an entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster the development of agtechs and reflect the main difficulties faced by entrepreneurs of these nascent companies in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Relevance/originality: the issues involved in the study comprise themes of central interest for a deeper understanding of the applied dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystems and Agtechs in the context of the Espírito Santo.

Mission-oriented or mission adrift? A critical examination of mission-oriented innovation policies

ABSTRACT This debate article provides a critical examination of the rationale for, and validity of, mission-oriented innovation policies. It does so by providing a critique of the ‘mission-oriented’ approach espoused for the new Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB). The central contention put forward in this paper is that its mission-oriented approach constitutes ‘fuzzy’ policy making which is highly opaque, lacking sufficient detail and fails to align itself properly with the demand conditions within the Scottish innovation system. Arguably, this policy approach could result in significant policy path dependencies which could further reinforce (rather than reverse) the inherent weaknesses within the Scottish innovation system. The paper outlines an alternative ‘diffusion-oriented’ approach which seems better equipped at overcoming the entrenched ‘low productivity, low innovation equilibrium’ evident in Scotland. Regional innovation policy must be properly customized to ensure new agencies are effectively tailored and aligned to the demand conditions within their local innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. In short, policy should be context-led rather than mission-led.