CIRCLE Seminar with Roman Martin on “Differentiated Knowledge Bases and the Nature of Innovation Networks”

Roman Martin

Roman Martin, PhD candidate at CIRCLE and the Department Human Geography, Lund University, will give a seminar on “Differentiated Knowledge Bases and the Nature of Innovation Networks”

Discussant: Thomas Niedomysl and Sabrina Fredin

Date: February 7th, 14.15-15.15
Place: CIRCLE seminar room, Sölvegatan 16, Lund

Abstract: It is argued in this paper that the nature of innovation networks can vary substantially with regard to the type of knowledge that is critical for innovation. Subject to the knowledge base of an industry, networks between companies can differ in various aspects such as their geographical configuration, their persistence over time, their structure and density, the type of actors holding a strategic position and the type of relations between actors. The paper comprises a conceptual discussion on social capital and network theory, followed by a theoretically informed discussion on differentiated knowledge bases and innovation networks, which is subsequently challenged with empirical material. The empirical analysis is based on social network analysis in association with exclusive data about patterns of cooperation and knowledge exchange in a number of regional industries located in different parts of Europe. The findings suggest that networks in analytical industries are little constraint by geographical distance; knowledge is exchanged in a highly selective manner between research units and scientists in globally configured epistemic communities. Synthetic industries source knowledge within nationally or regionally configured networks between suppliers and customers, and within communities of practice. Symbolic industries rely on knowledge that is culturally defined and highly context specific, resulting in localised networks that are temporary and flexible in nature.

Keywords: Knowledge bases, regional innovation systems, innovation networks

CIRCLE special session at the Uddevalla Symposium 2012, Portugal

CIRCLE is organising a special session on “Academics Entrepreneurship and Innovation – bridging perspectives and pushing the frontier”, as part of the 15th Uddevalla Symposium, 14-16 June 2012, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.

Organization committee:

• Professor Martin Andersson (CIRCLE, Lund University and BTH)
• Professor Åsa Lindholm-Dahlstrand (CIRCLE, Lund University and Halmstad University)
• Associate professor Olof Ejermo (CIRCLE, Lund University)
• Associate professor Jonas Gabrielsson (CIRCLE, Lund University and Halmstad University)
• Assistant professor Taehyun Jung (CIRCLE, Lund University)

Call for Papers (Download)

Deadline for abstract submission: February 28th, 2012

Further information about the symposium: www.symposium.hv.se

CIRCLE Seminar with Karl Wennberg on “Performance Feedback and New Firm Growth”

Dr. Karl Wennberg

Karl Wennberg, researcher at the Stockholm School of Economic, will visit CIRCLE and give a seminar on “Performance Feedback and New Firm Growth”.

Discussant: Jonas Gabrielsson (CIRCLE)

Date: Tue, 17 January 2012, 14:15-15:15
Place: CIRCLE seminar room

Abstract: Evolutionary influenced theories of organizational learning suggest that firms grow in order to overcome threats to survival and to establish a competitive position. We outline and test a framework defining the boundary conditions of alternative learning models of firm growth by examining the effects on growth of performance relative to firm-specific and industry-average performance aspirations. Investigating a population of 14,765 new firms in the business services industry sector, we find that the relationship between performance and growth is moderated by firm’s age and size. This lends support to behavioral learning theory in older and larger firms and to economic learning theory in young and small firms. The observed changes in learning behavior tends take place in firms between five and six years of age, and with six to twelve employees, consistent with the research on self-organizing groups. Implications for future research are discussed.

Download the paper (PDF)

Open PhD position in Economics at CIRCLE

A position as Doctoral Student in Economics at CIRCLE, in collaboration with the Department of Economics, is now open for application. The position is within the research area concerning innovation, entrepreneurship and development in regions of varying economic density. Last day of applying is 2012-02-01. For more information about the position, please see: Vacant Positions at CIRCLE.

CIRCLE Electronic Working Papers

Four new papers in the CIRCLE Electronic Working Paper series:

• Josephine V. Rekers: Considering adoption: Towards a consumption-oriented approach to innovation (WP 2011/14)
• Jerker Moodysson and Elena Zukauskaite: Institutional conditions and innovation systems: on the impact of regional policy on firms in different sectors (WP 2011/13)
• Arne Isaksen and Magnus Nilsson: Linking scientific and practical knowledge in innovation systems (WP 2011/12)
• Jan Fagerberg, Maryan Feldman and Martin Srholec: Technological Dynamics and Social Capability: Comparing U.S. States and European Nations (WP 2011/11)

Access all papers through the database of RePEc (Research Papers in Economics), or download directly from the CIRCLE website:

CIRCLE Seminar with Sabrina Fredin on “The Institutional Foundation of Entrepreneurship: A local perspective”

Sabrina Fredin, PhD candidate at CIRCLE and Blekinge Institute of Technology, will give a seminar on “The Institutional Foundation of Entrepreneurship: A local perspective” (authored with Marina Jogmark)

Discussants: Martin Andersson and Roman Martin (CIRCLE)

Date: Monday 12th of December, 10:15-11:15 AM
Place: CIRCLE seminar room

Abstract: This paper aims to investigate if and in what way differences in local institutions can affect entrepreneurship. While the potential importance of informal institutions for entrepreneurship has been acknowledged in entrepreneurship research, empirical research has been scarce. This paper is build around the assumption that there are different types of institutional foundation with different impacts on the local entrepreneurship. Three Swedish cities have been included in this qualitative study: The county town Linköping, the industrial town Norrköping and the naval base Karlskrona. In all three cases, the entrepreneurs built up a parallel group culture for their entrepreneurial activities. The case discussions however showed that it was more difficult to integrate this parallel emerging entrepreneurial group culture in the institutional foundation of cities with a strong labour movement.

CIRCLE Seminar with Prof. Keun Lee on “Knowledge and Economic Catch-up: Neo-Schumpeterian Analysis at the Firm, Sector & Country-Levels”

Prof. Keun Lee

Prof. Keun Lee from Seoul National University will give a CIRCLE seminar on November 30th 15.15-16.30, on the topic “Knowledge and Economic Catch-up: Neo-Schumpeterian Analysis at the Firm, Sector & Country-Levels”

Discussant: TBA

Abstract: In the early 1980s, South Korea and Taiwan were at the similar or lower level of per capita GDP, compared with Latin American countries. However, while the Latin American countries were stagnation over the next two decades, the Asian countries have achieved more than three time increase of their per capital incomes, and more recently joined the club of rich countries. This should be taken as a serious catch-up. In finding an answer to this question of how this has been possible, this study analyzes this catch-up phenomenon at the three levels of firm, sector, and country. While there have already appeared many diverse theoretical explanations in the literature, this study has tried to look into the knowledge bases of the latecomer firms, sectors and country or simply the national innovation system. The knowledge bases are characterized quantitatively using the US patent data.

Date: November 30th 15.15-16.30
Place: CIRCLE Seminar room

CIRCLE Seminar with Lotta Väänänen on “Education and Invention”

Lotta Väänänen, PhD from Aalto University, Helsinki, now at NOKIA, visits CIRCLE on Nov 29. She will hold a seminar at 14.15-15.30 on the topic “Education and Invention” (joint work with Otto Toivanen).

Discussant: Prof Martin Andersson, CIRCLE

Abstract: Modern growth theory puts invention on the center stage. Inventions are created by individuals, raising the question: can we increase number of inventors? To answer this question, we study the causal effect of M.Sc. engineering education on invention, using data on U.S. patents’ Finnish inventors and the distance to the nearest technical university as an instrument. We find a positive effect of engineering education on the propensity to patent, and a negative OLS bias. Our counterfactual calculation suggests that establishing 3 new technical universities resulted in a 20% increase in the number of USPTO patents by Finnish inventors.

Date: November 29th, 14.15-15.30
Place: CIRCLE Seminar room

Two open positions as project assistant at CIRCLE

CIRCLE is hiring two project assistants on 50-100% to assist with data work. Deadline for application is December 20, 2011.

Read more here: http://www.circle.lu.se/about-circle/vacant-positions

Chat with CIRCLE researcher Lennart Schön about the global economic crisis (in Swedish)

Prof. Lennart Schön

Hur påverkar den ekonomiska krisen? Funderar du över hur den ekonomiska krisen påverkar dig, Sverige, Europa, världen? Klockan 15.00 idag (söndag, 2011-11-13) kan du chatta med ekonomiprofessor Lennart Schön.

Chat med Lennart Schön: http://www.sydsvenskan.se/ekonomi/article1574359/Hur-paverkar-den-ekonomiska-krisen.html