Regional Innovation Systems: Current Discourse and Challenges for Future Research

In recent years, the concept of Regional Innovation Systems has evolved into a widely used analytical framework generating the empirical foundation for innovation policy making. Yet, the approaches utilizing this framework remain ambiguous on such key issues as the territorial dimension of innovation, e.g., the region, and the apparently important role played by “institutions” or the institutional context in the emergence and sustenance of regional innovation systems. This paper reviews and summarizes the most important ideas and arguments of the recent theorizing on regional innovation systems to provide the basis for a critical examination of such issues as (1) definition confusion and empirical validation; (2) the territorial dimension of regional innovation systems; and (3) the role of institutions. Key-words: Regional innovation systems, institutions, regions, research, policy JEL CODES: O31, R58

Technopoles et trajectoires stratégiques : le cas de la ville de Laval (Québec)

Le phénomène technopolitain a pris une dimension importante dans les stratégies de développement local depuis les années 1980. Toutefois, dès lors qu'on tente d'observer les différentes formes de la technopole, on se rend compte qu'elles présentent des réalités diverses. Cet article est consacré à l'évaluation de la trajectoire stratégique de la technopole, en questionnant plus particulièrement les formes de développement rassemblées sous l'appellation technopole. Tout d'abord, il apporte quelques éléments de compréhension sur les aspects importants du développement technopolitain et sur les types de technopoles recensés dans la littérature. Ensuite, l'analyse s'attarde sur le cas de la ville de Laval (Québec, Canada), devenue technopole en 1995, et cherche à identifier la trajectoire technopolitaine qu'elle adopte. Enfin, la dernière partie propose une nouvelle typologie des technopoles à la lumière des conclusions et des leçons tirées de notre étude empirique.Since the 1980's, the technopolitan phenomenon has become an important dimension in local economic development strategies. Nevertheless, when we observe the different technopoles that exist, we notice that several different forms are present. This paper provides an assessment of the technopolitan strategic trajectory by analysing these different forms of technopolitan development. First, it gives some comprehensive elements about the principal aspects of the technopolitan development and on the type of technopoles that are enumerated in the literature. Second, the analysis examines a case-study, the city of Laval (Québec, Canada). In 1995, this city became a technopole. We will identify the strategic trajectory that was adopted. Finally, we will present a new technopole typology drawn from the conclusions and lessons obtained from our empirical study

Le rôle des politiques et des actions publiques dans l’émergence et l’évolution du projet de cluster maritime du Québec

Cet article est consacré à l’étude du Projet de cluster maritime du Québec. Ce projet, qui trouve ses origines dans des politiques publiques formulées à partir de 1998, représente une tentative délibérée de faire émerger au sein de l’industrie maritime des régions du Québec maritime un cluster dynamique. Cet article a un double objectif. Tout d’abord, il vise à décrire et à analyser les politiques et les actions publiques au coeur de ce projet de cluster, ensuite il discute des retombées économiques liées à ce projet au niveau régional. À partir de cette étude de cas, nous cherchons à mieux comprendre les pièges qui doivent être évités dans la formulation de politiques de cluster ainsi que la pertinence de l’approche des clusters pour favoriser le développement économique des régions périphériques.This paper is on the Quebec’s Maritime Cluster Initiative. This initiative has its origin in a set of public policies launched in 1998, aimed at creating a dynamic cluster in the Quebec’s coastal maritime industry. The objectives of this paper are twofold : first, we describe and analyze the public policies and programs behind the Quebec’s Maritime Cluster Initiative ; secondly, we discuss the impact of these policies on the regional economy. Based on this case, we discuss mistakes to be avoided in designing cluster policies as well the relevance of a cluster strategy to foster and support the economy of peripheral regions

Le système régional d'innovation : outil de développement pour les territoires

Les systèmes régionaux d'innovation suscitent, depuis plusieurs dernières décennies, un intérêt partagé aussi bien par les chercheurs que par les décideurs politiques. Progressivement se sont élaborés des modèles conceptuels visant à saisir les relations entre le développement d'une économie du savoir dont le fondement repose sur la production et la diffusion de processus innovants. A la différence de la période fordiste, l'innovation y est analysée comme le résultat d'un produit social et territorialisé, stimulé non seulement par des ressources localement ancrées mais également par un contexte social et culturel propre à chaque région. La communication proposée rappelle les principales inflexions des approches conceptuelles avant de proposer à la discussion quatre thèmes qui nous paraissent susceptibles de nourrir une nouvelle approche d'intervention en matière de développement territorial

Structure et fonctionnement du cluster maritime du Québec

Cette étude de cas du cluster maritime du Québec cherche à analyser les principaux mécanismes qui expliquent le fonctionnement et le développement du cluster et, parallèlement, à analyser les barrières qui freinent ou limitent sa croissance. Les résultats de cette étude portent sur une enquête réalisée auprès des entreprises maritimes et des organisations de soutien à l’industrie maritime. Les analyses démontrent, dans le cas du cluster maritime du Québec, que les principaux éléments et fonctions caractérisant les clusters dynamiques sont absents. Nous constatons que le cluster maritime est constitué de petites entreprises qui ne sont pas interreliées et dont l’activité globale d’innovation est faible. De plus, nous observons que le système de soutien à l’industrie maritime témoigne d’une grande variété organisationnelle et opérationnelle. L’absence d’une masse critique d’entreprises et d’une infrastructure de soutien et d’accueil est le principal obstacle limitant la croissance du cluster maritime.This case study is on the Quebec maritime cluster. The article seeks to study the mechanisms underlying the functioning and development of the cluster, and to the barriers that limits its growth. The results of this study are based on a survey which was addressed to both the maritime firms and the support organisations in maritime industry. The analysis suggests, in the case of the Quebec's maritime cluster, that the key elements and functions characterising dynamic clusters are missing. We observed that the maritime cluster encompasses an array of small firms which are not linked to each others and that are not intensively engaged in innovation activities. Moreover, we observed that support organisations cover a large variety with respect to organisational and operational activities. Finally, the absence of critical mass of enterprises and support organisations are the main barriers limiting the growth of the cluster

The key dimensions of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) analysis: a decade of evolution

The importance of knowledge and innovation in modern economies justifies the in-creasing interest that scholars are taking in studying knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). The objective of this paper is to track the evolution of the key dimen-sions on which scholars have based their analyses through a literature review. More specifically, three main issues are addressed: (1) how KIBS are defined in the litera-ture; (2) how KIBS have been investigated empirically by researchers; and (3) how the analysis of KIBS has evolved over time. As a major assumption, the analysis catego-rises the research topic into three key conceptual dimensions: (i) knowledge; (ii) inno-vation and (iii) spatial proximity. The major hypothesis is that the way KIBS are seen, studied and perceived by the research community resolutely changed over time and that this evolution can be tracked by observing modifications in the key dimensions associated with the analysis of KIBS

Public Policy and Sustainable Development: Agenda (21) for Change?

Agenda 21-inspired local visions and goals have not translated into actual local change. Increased interdependencies and interconnectedness at the global and other scales, inherent to varying degrees in all definitions of sustainable development, necessitate adopting a multi-level, multi-scale, multi-system, and integrated approach for analyzing the development and implementation of Agenda 21-based policies. Adopting such an approach this paper examines the causes for the failure by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo to meet its objectives on sustainability. The picture that emerges from this study is one of dissatisfaction with bureaucratic rhetoric, concerns about increased polarization, disagreement with the focus on economic growth at all costs, weak or inadequate regulatory tools to curb unsustainable activity, the size and complexity of problems to be addressed, unwillingness by politicians to take charge, inadequate discourse mechanisms, and there not having been a serious, acute local problem to rally everyone around a common goal and into action. This paper identifies “Systems-related Factors” and “Inter-relational Factors” as constituting barriers to sustainability at a regional scale. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of its findings for policy.regional and urban economics ;

Services à forte intensité de connaissances, contexte régional et comportements d'innovation: une comparaison internationale

L'enjeu de cet article est de montrer dans quelle mesure des contextes régionaux différents impliquent des comportements d'innovation différents de la part des services à forte intensité de connaissances SFIC. L'analyse s'appuie sur une comparaison des régions suivantes: le Bas-Saint-Laurent et la Beauce (toutes deux au Canada), l'Alsace (en France) et le Pays de Bade (en Allemagne). Tout en étant conscient de la diversité des terrains empiriques et de la variété des configurations régionales l'analyse s'interroge quant à l'existence d'un rapport spécifique entre comportement d'innovation des SFIC et environnement régional. --Entreprises de service à forte intensité de connaissances (SFIC),comportements d'innovation,perceptions,systèmes régionaux d'innovation,Alsace,Bas-Saint-Laurent,Beauce,Pays de Bade

University-industry links and the determinants of their spatial scope : a study of the knowledge intensive business services sector

This paper examines the determinants of the spatial scope of collaborative linkages between Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) firms and universities in the UK. Drawing on data on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), it is found that the geographic scope of these linkages is determined by a complex mix of the particular characteristics of firms and universities, as the well the location of the firms. In particular, proximity increases with the participation of smaller firms, and firms located within areas with higher densities of KIBS employment. In contrast, the participation of larger firms or a university with greater levels of research activity increases the geographic scope of a linkage

Variations in SME Characteristics and the Use of Service Intermediaries for R&D

[EN] Large companies increasingly look externally for opportunities to enhance innovation, which has resulted in closer study of innovation systems. We examined the role of service intermediaries (universities, technology centers, and consultants) within these systems using a sample of predominately small- and medium-sized enterprises located in Valencia, Spain. As with studies of large companies, absorptive capacity (e.g., research and development expenditures) was positively related to the likelihood that a firm would engage in service collaborations. However, the rate of collaboration was higher relative to studies dominated by larger companies. Also, there were differences in the pattern of firm characteristics associated with the use of specific services. For example, the level of SME export activity related positively to the use of technology centers, but negatively to university collaborationsThe authors thank the Alto Consejo Consultivo en I + D of the Generalitat Valenciana and IMPIVA for facilitating the access to the survey on which this paper is based and, especially, Manuel López Estornell and Emilio Cubel for preparing the questionnaire and the sample. This work has been partially supported by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia under grants PAID-06-10/2424 and PAID 06-10/2392, and Generalitat Valenciana under grants GV/2011/002 and GV/2011/049Castrogiovanni, GJ.; Doménech I De Soria, J.; Mas Verdú, F. (2012). Variations in SME Characteristics and the Use of Service Intermediaries for R&D. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences / Revue Canadienne des Sciences de l'Administration. 1-11. doi:10.1002/CJAS.231S11