Contests for Cooperation: A New Approach in German Innovation Policy

A new approach in German innovation policy organizes contests of proposals for developing innovation networks. Based on an overview of the different programs, we investigate the advantages, problems and limitations of such an approach. We find that this type of policy may have a relatively large impact and can, therefore, be regarded as a rather efficient instrument of innovation policy. Compared to conventional policies, administration of the program is a much more critical issue. The contest approach may stimulate learning effects on the side of the administration but may also require a high degree of flexibility. The main disadvantage is the additional time that is required for conducting the contest. As a distinct "picking the winner" approach, the contest approach is not suited as a means for achieving a leveling-out of regional welfare levels. -- In einem neuen Ansatz der deutschen Innovationspolitik werden Wettbewerbe für Vorschläge zur Entwicklung von Innovationsnetzwerken organisiert. Ausgehend von einem Überblick über diese Programme diskutieren wir Vorteile, Nachteile und Grenzen dieses Ansatzes. Es zeigt sich, dass diese Art der Innovationsförderung große Wirkungen erzeugen kann und daher vermutlich effizienter ist, als andere Typen von Programmen. Im Vergleich zu konventionellen Formen der Innovationsförderung ist allerdings die Administration des Programms sehr viel anspruchsvoller. Der Wettbewerbs-Ansatz kann Lerneffekte der Administration stimulieren aber auch ein relativ hohes Maß an Flexibilität erfordern. Der wesentliche Nachteil ist die zusätzliche Zeit, die für die Durchführung des Wettbewerbs benötigt wird. Da ein Wettbewerb ein ausgesprochenes ?Pick the Winner?-Vefahren darstellt, ist dieser Ansatz für eine ausgleichsorientierte Regionalpolitik kaum geeignet.Innovationspolitik,Wettbewerb zwischen Regionen,Innovationsnetzwerke,Innovation policy,regional competition,innovation networks

Conjunto clash : competition and sustainability in 21st-century cultural heritage management

Scholar Dan Margolies has noted the growing presence of music initiatives in the Texas-Mexican conjunto community that conform to the framework of “cultural sustainability,” as defined by ethnomusicologist Jeff Todd Titon (Margolies 2011: 30). Titon’s model “decenters the top-down discourse by cultural heritage experts, and instead … repositions cultural workers collaboratively” (Titon 2009: 703). One program identified by Margolies as culturally sustainable is the Big Squeeze statewide youth accordion contest (Margolies 2015). The Big Squeeze attempts to promote the many accordion traditions of Texas by showcasing talented young performers. In practice, the event conforms to a co-operative mode of cultural heritage management in that it stages auditions throughout the state, often in underserved or rural areas, and collaborates extensively with local musicians, teachers, cultural workers, and business owners. The Big Squeeze has also created professional opportunities for its winners. On the other hand, many issues emerge as a result of the event’s sustainable structure. In the case of conjunto, the element of competition is at constant odds with the music’s resonance as a symbol of working-class solidarity among Mexican-Americans. More broadly, competition can have the effect of discouraging young participants from playing. Other problems arise when attempting to address the needs of multiple music communities through one framework. Ultimately, the lessons from the Big Squeeze build upon Titon’s scholarship by identifying and attempting to create solutions for unforeseen issues presented by culturally sustainable heritage efforts.Musi

Spartan Daily, April 1, 1986

Volume 86, Issue 39https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/7428/thumbnail.jp

Spartan Daily, May 11, 1965

Volume 52, Issue 119https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/4720/thumbnail.jp

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is concerned with Earth science-related education, communication and outreach, and coordinating international Earth observation policy. IGES not only develops and implements educational programs for teachers and students, but also works closely with industry leaders, senior-level government representatives and decision makers throughout the world in the area of Earth observation. They have developed a group of learning activities entitled The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, which are available on the Web for use in the classroom. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school

Spartan Daily, October 25, 1965

Volume 53, Issue 24https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/4766/thumbnail.jp

Expert judgment versus public opinion : evidence from the Eurovision Song Contest

For centuries, there have been discussions as to whether only experts can judge the quality of cultural output, or whether the taste of the public also has merit. This paper tries to resolve that question empirically, using national finals of the Eurovision Song Contest. We show that experts are better judges of quality: the outcome of finals judged by experts is less sensitive to factors unrelated to quality than the outcome of finals judged by public opinion. Yet, experts are not perfect: their judgment does still depend on such factors. This is also the case in the European finals of the contest

Spartan Daily, May 4, 1965

Volume 52, Issue 114https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/4715/thumbnail.jp

Spartan Daily, March 9, 1965

Volume 52, Issue 82https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/4697/thumbnail.jp