Notion Of Proximity Research Articles

Nodes, networks and proximities: on the knowledge dynamics of the Medicon Valley biotech cluster

Empirical research on the knowledge dynamics of biotechnology demonstrates a dual local‐global knowledge flow pattern. The sector is characterised by strong spatial concentration around nodes of excellence that are interconnected through a global network. This requires a specification of the notion of proximity as a facilitator of learning processes which emphasises its multifaceted configuration. This study highlights the significance of relational proximity within epistemic communities shaping innovation processes across multi‐spatial scales. These arguments are illustrated with a database‐survey on collaboration in scientific publication by 109 biotechnology firms in the Danish‐Swedish life‐science cluster Medicon Valley.

L'exemple de la préfecture des Alpes-Maritimes

The author shows the many advantages of electronic information systems applied to the organisation and functioning of a territorial administration. In particular, it emphasises their contribution to the notion of proximity, indeed the vocation of a prefecture. In just a few years, ICTs seem to have become a central element of the organisation and management of de-concentrated state services.

La gouvernance locale, un retour à la proximité

Local governance analysed through proximity - Economic and political analysis allows to study the theme of governance in regards of development dynamics and types of actors coordination involved. It questions directly the local dimension of the process. According to its theoretical background and operational implementation, governance is analysed through the notion of proximity, identifying problems and limits of its contribution to development objectives.

Being close to risk. From proximity to connexity

The relationship between urban spaces, associated risk, and the notion of proximity has until now been subject to very little critical examination. It is, however, crucial to conduct a discussion on the subject, especially in view of the latest disasters that have made the headlines (notably in New York and Toulouse in September 2001, in Madrid in March 2004). On the one hand, it is widely understood that the consequences of risk tend to be more severe in urban environments; on the other, the categorization of different risks (industrial, social, environmental risks, etc.) within a space reinforces the probability of all kinds of disaster occurring. This line of reasoning will be questioned through a case study. By observing the practices amongst the different parties involved in identifying and managing the risk of fire in Geneva (Switzerland), we will propose the notion of connexity as a complement to that of proximity, as it is more closely related to the practices in action in this field.

Réorganisations dans la coopération agricole : proximités et solidarité territoriale

Models of organisation in agricul tural co-opera tion a need for proximity and territorial solidarity - Does market competition pressure systematically lead, because of a loosening of territorial ties, to a deterioration of the relationship between cooperatives and their members ? Beyond the heterogeneity of co-operatives, we have chosen to analyse the organisational changes in co-operatives, basing ourselves on the notion of proximity and on aspects that characterise the relationship between these organisations and their members. This approach enables us to describe three stylised organisational models. We examine them, basing ourselves on three aspects that make them original: the group's relationship with its members, risk sharing and the nature of the territorial ties. Forced to commit to traceability and food safety requirements, co-operatives must ensure that their membership is stable and fully committed, thus reinforcing their relationship. The emergence of a third so-called model of competitive advantage co-construction, situates the member at the heart of the generation of specific knowledge. It reflects an articulation of geographical and organisational dimensions of proximity that is related to a solidarity between the co-operatives and their members, and to the revalorization of territorial ties.

Nearness relations in environmental space

The notion of proximity is a fundamental component of any comprehensive ontology of space. This paper presents an experiment with human subjects concerning the vague spatial relation 'near' in environmental space. After the topic is introduced and relevant previous work surveyed, the experiment is described. Three approaches to experimental analysis are presented and discussed: nearness neighbourhoods as regions with broad boundaries, fuzzy nearness and distance measures, and four-valued logic. Issues discussed in further detail are the truth gap-truth glut hypotheses regarding the psychology of vague predicates, and formal properties of the three-valued nearness relation. The conclusion is drawn that formal theories can usefully underpin and be applied to reasoning with vague spatial notions, such as nearness.

TWO NOTES ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING 'PROXIMITY' IN NEGLIGENCE ACTIONS: PROXIMITY AND NEGLIGENT ADVICE — THE SAN SEBASTIAN CASE

In November 1986, the High Court handed down its decision in San Sebastian Pty Ltd v. Minister Administering the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The importance of the decision is that four of the five Justices sitting delivered a joint judgment clarifying the approach to be taken in determining negligence actions for economic loss founded on misstatement. It confirms that the notion of proximity will be used as a determinant of the overall duty of care.

Distance-based cluster analysis and measurement scales

The clear recognition of the correct geometrical model is particularly important for problems involving measurements and distances, both on general methodological grounds and as a means of verifying the empirical significance of the mathematical conclusions. The addition of axioms or hypotheses which are not pertinent to the essence of the problem can only lead to results that are, at best, misleading. In many cases, the measurement scales which the social scientist has at his disposal are too weak to support a non-trivial metric structure. However, it is also true that metric notions apply to much more general situations than those for which the Euclidean model is relevant. This generality makes it possible to choose distances that not only satisfy the axioms, but also closely correspond to the notion of proximity which the scientist considers relevant to his problem. Whenever a distance function can be introduced, cluster analysis and other classification techniques will derive at least two advantages from a consistent use of metric notions. One advantage is the possibility of using concepts and results from the rich literature of metric spaces. Secondly, a mathematically more precise formulation of the problem of clustering will facilitate the discovery of suitable algorithms with well-defined properties. In this respect, graph theory and related disciplines such as mathematical programming have much to contribute to the development of numerical taxonomy.