Regional Innovation Networks Research Articles

The Role of Network Topology and the Spatial Distribution and Structure of Knowledge in Regional Innovation Policy: A Calibrated Agent-Based Model Study

Recently, new regional innovation policy paradigms emerged that transcend a long-lived dispute on whether either regional specialization, diversification, or rather related variety is most conducive to regional innovativeness. This includes ‘smart specialization’ in which regions are deliberately specialized and connected following technological relatedness, ‘gatekeepers’ in which there are pipelines between dense regional networks, and a ‘regional mix’ of knowledge that allows sustained ‘branching’. We develop and use an agent-based model to study the conjecture that, to stimulate (supra)regional innovativeness, social planners need to consider both, in conjunction, the mix of technological knowledge in regions and the (inter)regional innovation network topology. We use this agent-based model to evaluate the performance of and study the internal mechanisms of these new policy paradigms in a variety of scenarios. To increase the external validity of our findings, we calibrate the knowledge graph searched by the agents in our model to the OECD patent database. We confirm that access to related variety is important, yet that, on top of that, access to incidentally related knowledge is crucial to prevent high-level lock-in and ensure long term technological progress. Moreover, we find that networks with regional gatekeepers are particularly innovative, because these gatekeepers form ‘knowledge hubs’, create short paths to potential partners, and enlarge the total pool of knowledge. In case agents have few relationships, we find exceptionally high performance for the gatekeeper network in combination with regional diversification. The smart specialization network is a solid second option, although it lacks access to incidentally related knowledge and thus will ultimately fall behind whenever agents have relatively few relationships. The study elaborates on specific scenarios to reveal intricacies in the relationship between knowledge distribution, network topology, and the structure of interrelationships between knowledge fields.

An evolving regional innovation network: collaboration among industry, university, and research institution in China’s first technology hub

Collaboration among industry, university, and research institution (IUR) is dialectically linked with regional resources and networks. As the best-known innovative region in China, Zhongguancun in Beijing is no exception. The purpose of this paper is to understand the innovation network of IUR collaboration in Zhongguancun, focusing on linkages between industry and university as well as public research institutes, a key mechanism for transfer and diffusion of academic research and knowledge. Starting from a qualitative analysis of the formation and development process of this network, we combine social network analysis and spatial analysis methods at firm level and reveal the temporal and spatial evolution of Zhongguancun IUR cooperative innovation network. The network has developed from a single driver relying on government-centered connections into a more diversified system based on government and market incentives. A set of large, medium and small radial sub-networks have become interwoven, resembling a hub-and-spoke spatial structure.

Using Historical Methods to Explore the Contribution of Information Technology to Regional Development in New Zealand

This article examines the role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) play in regional development and their relationship with factors such as regional learning, innovation, culture, and internal and external regional information networks. Historical methods are used to build up a picture of significant changes that have taken place within two contrasting regions of New Zealand between 1985 and 2005. The interdependent relationships between the development of hard ICT-based networks and regional social networks are explored.

Determinants of Emerging Technology Commercialization: Empirical Evidences from MEMS Technology

Currently most of studies on commercialization of the emerging technology considered the context in developed countries like US, Japan, and EU with few research on developing country like China. To fill this gap, taking 112 Chinese Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) enterprises as a sample, this thesis empirically investigated the determinants of emerging technology in China. Through multiple regression analysis, the empirical results show that technology property, market conditions, regional innovation network, and enterprise capability are main determinants of MEMS commercialization whereas social environment and policy and regulation do not have significant impact on the performance of MEMS commercialization.

The impact of external environment factors on the growth of cultural enterprises in China

Based on the summary and comments of enterprises growth theories, Delphi method was used to select external environment factors affecting the growth of cultural enterprises, and ANP method was used to calculate the relative weights of criteria and index to acquire the significant order. The conclusion showed the high degree of importance to the end that are, government support, financial ecological environment, development of cultural and creative industries, cultural resources situation, regional innovation network, and development of related supporting industries.

Networking and learning for tourism innovation: evidence from the Western Cape

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the nature of networking and learning by tourism firms in relation to accessing knowledge for innovation. In particular, the nature of tourism learning and networking, geography of networking linkages, and systemic characteristics of relationships between tourism firms, government agencies, higher education institutions, and other organisations in the Western Cape tourism system are examined. The analysis draws on 182 tourism firm, tourism system, and contextual interviews. This investigation demonstrates that even though tourism firms mostly use internal resources for innovation, external, non-local knowledge is significant for enhancing novel innovation. It is disclosed that whilst local network linkages are dense, loose, and of importance for business and marketing purposes, extra-regional network relationships are imperative for learning in relation to innovation. As further observed, network linkages between local and regional actors for supporting tourism innovation in the Western Cape are generally weak which points to the underdevelopment of local and regional innovation networks or systems. The paper provides planning recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of tourism firms towards fostering development and growth in the regional tourism economy. Specifically, support for stimulating learning networks as well as strengthening systemic relationships in the Western Cape tourism system are recommended. It is underscored that strategic relationships with non-local partners need to be nurtured towards fostering tourism innovation and enhancing regional competitiveness.

Brokerage activities in regional innovation networks: the case of Daegu Technopark in Korea

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the concepts of local clusters and regional innovation networks and discusses the significance of ‘network brokerages’ in issues of local economic development and governance. The brokerage activities particularly affect the linkage structures and characteristics of regional networks. This research discusses each of these features in turn, and develops structural, divisional, or procedural models of them. The paper then turns to the empirical examples of brokerage activities by Daegu Technopark to illustrate the ways in which a local broker and related actors have been functioning. The analysis of Daegu Technopark case indicates that the positive results of network brokerages are mainly due to the proximity and willingness of a network broker to local firms, the making and operation of public programmes suitable to local conditions, differentiation to linkage purposes, the provision of contact opportunities, flexible manoeuvring and consensus-building efforts, and an active-minded leadership applicable to the circumstances. It is, of course, apprehended that Daegu Technopark shows some signs of potential limitations in the grasping and activating processes of regional potentials, such as a discontented aspect of managerial capability, a budgetary deficit, and a distorted process of performance evaluation system.

Complex regional innovation networks and HEI engagement - the case of Chicago

This article considers how HEIs engage within local complex development networks in order to develop the urban metropolis, using the case of Chicago as a specific example. The data utilised in the study are based on document analysis and interviews with some 40 representatives of organisations within the Chicago metropolitan area, including regional HEIs. Qualitative content analysis was undertaken in order to determine core themes and discourses, and to build a logical chain of evidence to formulate our conclusions, which offer new thinking about the regional engagement role of HEIs within complex innovation systems. Our focus of analysis was the extent to which an adaptive and creative co-operation network of local triple helix actors had been created. Our study shows that creativity, the sharing of information, and acting and learning together are critical success factors in city development, and in particular in capitalising in the knowledge held by HEIs.

What happened to the growth? - The case of the ICT industry in Oulu, Finland

In this paper, we attempt to shed some light on how regional high-technology industrial structures and increased globalisation in business strategies combined with structures of knowledge and innovation networks and regional innovation policy can have a significant effect on a region's ability to react to changes in the global economic and technological environment. The aim is to provide a multidisciplinary view of regional development by combining not only the various views of the traditional agglomeration and regional innovation network literature but also the views about changing business strategies. We show, based on the empirical evidence, how the very specialised industrial and highly centralised structure of the innovation network together with regional policy choices can hinder a region's ability to cope with sudden changes in the global economic and technological environment.

Strengthening regional innovation through network-based innovation brokering

The primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate how regional innovation system theory may be translated into manageable micro-level methods with the potential for strengthening the productive dynamics of a regional innovation system. The paper meets this objective by presenting network-based innovation brokering (NBIB), a practical method designed using insights from regional innovation system theory and trust theory. Five cases from two Norwegian regional innovation networks show that in addition to knowledge development and diffusion, NBIB strengthened collaborative attitude and trust between members of the regional innovation system. Moreover, it served as an arena for entrepreneurial experimentation, resulting in projects combining two modes of innovation; the Science, Technology and Innovation mode and the Doing, Using and Interaction mode. The method, thus, may be viewed as a useful addition to the inventory of methods used to stimulate innovation in regional innovation systems (RISs). On a more general level, the paper represents a call to the community of innovation researchers and practitioners to give a higher priority to the question of how to better realize the pragmatic potential of RIS-theory.

Spin-off as an indicator of regional innovation network development

It is not easy to design an appropriate indicator of network collaboration that is relevant and comparable to all regions of the Russian Federation. This is a challenge because the creation of high-tech start-ups requires the cooperation of various and heterogeneous stakeholders: inventor, entrepreneur, investor, and the university. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to test the following hypothesis: the greater the number of viable spin-offs in the region, the higher the level of innovative activity of the region. The object of analysis is Russian spin-offs, which were created during the period from August 2009 to May 2014. Using their founders’ profiles, I obtained the university affiliation of these companies. I also gathered information about their industry affiliation, size, turnover, regional (country) identity, etc. Using this data, I developed a number of indicators characterizing the intensity of interaction between universities and companies. I show that there is a positive link between innovation activity and performance indicators describing the intensity of interaction between universities and companies at the regional level. In closing, I offer a few comments about the possibility of using the results of this research in the analysis of applied problems related to innovation policy and the development of ratings for the innovative activity of regions.

Increasing the adaptive capacity of organic farming systems in the face of climate change using action research methods

Adapting agricultural systems to the effects of climate change requires farm-specific innovations and adaptive measures. Such innovative measures were developed for organic farming systems in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany by a regional innovation network using an action research approach. The goal of the presented approach was to address climate change-related farm-specific problems, develop specific adaptation measures and learn new approaches such as proactive risk management and strategic adaptive behaviour. In a cyclical process of analysis, planning, action and reflection, the network of researchers and organic farmers repeatedly used SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analyses to structure the transdisciplinary innovation and adaption process. First, the organic farmers identified as main weaknesses the water and nitrogen supply likely to be worsened by climate change; then, farm-specific adaption measures were identified and tested by conducting on-farm experiments at six organic farms. By evaluating and thus adjusting and retesting the measures in consecutive trials, new farming methods were developed to increase diversification and decrease risk in organic farming practices. Along with the iterative process, the network was expanding and the collective learning process led to changes in attitudes and behaviour. A clear example is the stakeholders’ initially positive view of reduced tillage, which they later questioned and changed. The participating organic farmers proved to be active partners; their openness to innovation and their approach to problem solving make them well suited to action research. In adapting regions to climate change, these kinds of stakeholders will play a decisive role.

Networking, context and firm-level innovation: Cooperation through the regional filter in Norway

The paper assesses the role for innovation of one aspect which has been generally overlooked by evolutionary economic geography: context. It analyses how context shapes the impact of collaboration on firm-level innovation for 1604 firms located in the five largest city regions of Norway. Specifically, the analysis shows how the benefits to firms of collaborating within regional, national, and international innovation networks are affected by the knowledge endowments of the region within which the firm is located. Using a logit regression analysis, we find, first, that only national and international networking have a significant positive impact on the likelihood of innovation (the former only for process innovation), whereas the regional knowledge endowments have no direct effect. Second, regional cooperation is particularly effective in regions with high investments in R&D, whereas international cooperation is important in regions with an educated workforce – and regional and national collaboration may be ineffective in such cases. We conclude that, in the case of Norway, context is essential in determining the capacity of firms to set up networks and innovate. Regions with an educated workforce can use the resulting absorptive capacity to successfully assimilate knowledge being diffused through global pipelines from faraway places. However, this absorptive capacity is likely to be heavily filtered if regional firms mainly rely on internal connections within Norway.

From exclusion to inclusion in public innovation support?


 
 
 This article examines whether hitherto marginalized actors, industries and innovations – such as women, services industries and service innovations – could be acknowledged by the use of a bottom-up approach in innovation research in a way that helps make public innovation support more inclusive. It is scrutinized whether the relation between context, organization and outcomes in publically financed innovation networks such as clusters and innovation systems serves to highlight how more inclusive innovation support could be designed. Four regional innovation networks promoting women’s entrepreneurship and innovation in Sweden are analyzed by a bottom-up approach, since while emphasizing decentralization and inclusion in theory, most innovation theories and policies are in practice characterized by a top-down approach, ascribing superiority to certain actors, industries and innovations while marginalizing others in a distinct – often gendered – pattern. The bottom-up approach makes it possible to expose that being a marginalized actor in public innovation support is related to the organization of entrepreneurial types of innovation systems, based on contacts established ad hoc and resources gathered from scratch, making a wider range of actors, industries and innovations relevant than in institutional types of innovation systems favored in prevalent public innovation support. By acknowledging both types of innovation systems, more inclusive innovation policies could be designed and more nuanced innovation theories could be developed.
 
 

Through the magnifying glass: an analysis of regional innovation models based on co-word and meta-synthesis methods

This paper performs a fine-grained analysis of regional innovation models discussed in the literature, using a combination of quantitative (co-word analysis) and qualitative (meta-synthesis) methods applied to 300 papers from the Scopus and Sage databases covering the period 1990–2013. The co-word analysis produced knowledge maps that identify the most frequently occurring regional innovation models and group them into three clusters: Cluster 1 (industrial districts, local production systems), Cluster 2 (industrial clusters and regional clusters), and Cluster 3 (innovative milieus, regional innovation systems, innovation networks and learning regions). The meta-synthesis analysis used for exploring the content of these models identified three main themes, each with several sub-themes, as well as distinct features of the regions implementing them. Based on these distinctions, a typology of regions was derived, distinguishing between Early Innovators, Transitional Innovators and Advanced Innovators, which can serve as a useful instrument for academic researchers, policy-makers and practitioners involved in regional innovation.

Developing an innovative materials enterprise in China: a nanotechnology small business case study

Purpose – This paper aims to explore pathways and issues of small business technological commercialization in China, probing the particular characteristics of the Chinese context and the ways in which innovation frameworks, institutions and business strategies are embedded. Design/methodology/approach – The authors examine in detail the case of an innovative Chinese indigenous small firm engaged in innovative nanotechnology materials development. The strategies and push- and pull factors underlying the company’s innovation practices were investigated. The proposition that the institutional relationships formed to secure access to research expertise and aid business survival also influence the ways in which technology is commercialized was explored. Findings – It was found that while technological development is company-driven, it is also highly connected to regional innovation structures and networks. This stimulates a “spin-in” rather than a university-led model of development, as this small firm embeds its technology and business development strategies in conjunction with partner organizations. Broader management and policy implications are discussed. Originality/value – While China has rapidly expanded scientific research in emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, commercialization through the development of entrepreneurial technology-oriented small companies faces a series of challenges. New enterprises in the emerging area of nanotechnology encounter problems of technology transfer and intellectual property management, capital acquisition, market uncertainty and constrained access to global markets.

Industrial chains and innovation activity in Małopolska region in 2008-2010

The main objective of the study was an attempt to search for the conditions affect the nature of supply chains for enterprises innovative activity within the regional industrial systems, and consequently determine the frame conditions for the model of regional innovation networks, taking into account the specificities of Małopolskie region. The study was based on a questionnaire on a group of 500 companies from Małopolska. The study used probity modeling. This method is an effective research tool for large, but the static tests in which the dependent variable has a qualitative character.

Exploring a regional pharmaceutical innovation network as a possible solution to the market failure in the innovation of essential medicines for tropical diseases in sub-Saharan Africa

From an economic reasoning perspective, pharmaceutical research and development operates as a pure market activity. This viewpoint suggests innovations are receptive to questions of commerce. It is on this basis the pharmaceutical industry has undervalued the innovation of medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect the poor. Nevertheless, this fundamental thinking overlaps with a social norms standpoint, which dictates that pharmaceutical companies have a moral duty to classify the innovation of medicines for the poor as humanitarian goods as opposed to economic commodities. Notwithstanding the advancement of key social norms to that effect, the lack of innovative medicines for the treatment of tropical diseases is still not a realistic proposition. It is with this complexity in mind this article explores the feasibility of a regional pharmaceutical innovation network as a possible solution to the market failure in the innovation of essential medicines for the treatment of tropical diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, it is argued that sub-Saharan African countries must intervene to collectively fund domestic pharmaceutical innovation through a regional network, given that the current global economic arrangement makes it challenging for the pharmaceutical industry to innovate medicines for the treatment of tropical diseases without the prospect of recouping costs of investments.

Study on the Correlation of Regional Innovation Networks and Oil & Gas Resources Clusters Using an Empirical Analysis Based on Panel Data

Traditional studies suggest oil & gas resources clusters lack effective demand for innovation and resource endowments play the most important role in their development. In this paper, we analyzed the correlation of regional innovation networks and oil & gas resources clusters. Based on identification of oil & gas resources clusters in China by calculating location entropy, we did an empirical analysis on the correlation by using related panel data. It shows that resource-based clusters demand for innovation doesnt diminish at all. With oil and gas resources deep exploration, the demand for technology innovation increases, thus forming a strong and active regional innovation networks. In turn, effective regional innovation networks contribute to these clusters sustainable development.

Who Are the Knowledge Brokers in Regional Systems of Innovation? A Multi-Actor Network Analysis

Kauffeld-Monz M. and Fritsch M. Who are the knowledge brokers in regional systems of innovation? A multi-actor network analysis, Regional Studies. The discussion on regional innovation systems emphasizes the duality of local and global links. This empirical analysis of eighteen German regional innovation networks shows that public research organizations, especially universities, are profoundly involved in knowledge-exchange processes and possess more central (broker) positions within their regional innovation networks than private firms. This results, in part, from public research's ‘gatekeeper function’, which can be particularly important in lagging regions that typically suffer from a lack of large firms that often fill this role in advanced regions. The transferred knowledge is absorbed, especially, by private firms without inter-regional research and development cooperation activity. Kauffeld-Monz M. et Fritsch M. Les agents de la connaissance dans les systèmes d'innovation régionaux, qui sont-ils? Une analyse de réseau d'agents multiples, Regional Studies. Le débat sur les systèmes d'innovation régionaux met l'accent sur la dualité des liens à la fois locaux et mondiaux. Cette analyse empirique de dix-huit systèmes d'innovation régionaux en Allemagne laisse voir que les instituts de recherche publics, notamment les universités, se sont engagés à fond aux processus de l'échange de la connaissance et ont plus de positions centrales (en tant qu'agents) au sein de leur réseaux d'innovation régionaux que ne l'ont les entreprises privées. En partie, cela remonte à la fonction de la recherche publique comme ‘gardienne’, ce qui peut s'avérer particulièrement important dans les régions en perte de vitesse qui souffrent comme à leur habitude d'un manque d'entreprises de taille qui jouent souvent ce rôle dans les régions en pleine croissance. La connaissance transférée est absorbée, notamment par les entreprises privées qui ne font pas de la recherche et du développement interrégionaux. Systèmes d'innovation régionaux Réseaux d'innovation Analyse de réseau Agent de la connaissance Gardienne Kauffeld-Monz M. und Fritsch M. Wer sind die Wissensbroker in regionalen Innovationssystemen? Eine Netzwerkanalyse mit verschiedenen Akteuren, Regional Studies. Der Ansatz der regionalen Innovationssysteme betont die Bedeutung der Dualität globaler und lokaler Austauschbeziehungen für Innovationsprozesse. Unsere empirische Analyse von 18 regionalen Innovationsnetzwerken in Deutschland zeigt, dass öffentliche Forschungseinrichtungen – insbesondere Universitäten – intensiv in die Wissensaustauschprozesse dieser Netzwerke involviert sind und mehr zentrale (Wissensvermittler-)Positionen einnehmen als die in den untersuchten Netzwerken vertretenen Unternehmen. Dies resultiert zum Teil daraus, dass die öffentliche Forschung in Regionen mit Entwicklungsrückstand eine ‘Gatekeeper-Funktion’ wahrnimmt, welche in besser entwickelten Regionen typischerweise größeren Unternehmen zukommt. Das in das Netzwerk eingespeiste Wissen wird insbesondere von denjenigen Unternehmen absorbiert, die über keine eigenen regionsexternen FuE-Partnerschaften verfügen. Regionale Innovationssysteme Innovationsnetzwerke Netzwerkanalyse Wissenstransfer Gatekeeper Kauffeld-Monz M. y Fritsch M. ¿Quiénes son los intermediarios del conocimiento en los sistemas de innovación regionales? Un análisis de las redes de varios actores, Regional Studies. El debate sobre los sistemas de innovación regionales pone de relieve la dualidad de los vínculos locales y globales. En este análisis empírico de dieciocho redes de innovación regionales en Alemania mostramos que las organizaciones públicas de investigación, especialmente las universidades, están muy involucradas en los procesos de intercambio de conocimientos y poseen posiciones más centrales (de intermediarios científicos) en sus redes de innovación regionales que las empresas privadas. Esto se debe en parte a que la investigación pública tiene una función de ‘guardián’, lo que puede ser especialmente importante en regiones cuyo desarrollo ha quedado rezagado y que suelen carecer de las grandes empresas que con frecuencia cubren esta función en regiones avanzadas. El conocimiento transferido es absorbido especialmente por empresas privadas sin investigación interregional ni actividad de cooperación al desarrollo. Sistemas de innovación regional Redes de innovación Análisis de redes Intermediario del conocimiento Guardián