Innovation potentials and innovative networks in European metropolitan regions: Some empirical evidence from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona

Innovation potentials and innovative networks in European metropolitan regions - some empirical evidence from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelone Revilla Diez, Javier; Escorsa, Pere and Camacho, Jaime Alberto Interregional competitiveness and the relationship between technology and competitiveness has increasingly become the object of considerable interest. The stimulation of innovation potentials within a region is becoming more and more decisive in the competition between regions. Although a precise definition of the term innovation potential is difficult, there is no doubt that it is essentially the stock of knowledge and its use which makes up the innovation potential of a region. This stock, however, is an inert factor. Its conversion into innovation underlines the importance of linkages and relationships in everyday innovation processes. Firms pursue co-operative agreements in order to gain rapid access to new technologies or new markets, to benefit from economies of scale in joint R&D and production to tap into essential resources of know-how and to share risks. These linkages possess a number of features which make the network mode a distinct from inter-firm organisation. This paper attempts to give a clear documentation of current innovation activities in the metropolitan region of Barcelone between the three major actors in innovations systems: industrial firms, producer services and research institutions. The presented results are based on representative surveys within an international comparative study in three major metropolitan areas in Europe (Barcelone, Stockholm and Vienna). The results of this research will be relevant for an understanding of how and why different industries build cooperative relationships in metropolitan regions. The results will also provide insights for policy efforts that can help to nurture and expand the regional economic base in the face of the current rapid globalisation of production. Keywords: Innovation potential, Innovation networks, Metropolitan regions, Barcelona

Innovation potentials and innovative networks in European metropolitan regions: Some empirical evidence from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona

Innovation potentials and innovative networks in European metropolitan regions - some empirical evidence from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelone Revilla Diez, Javier; Escorsa, Pere and Camacho, Jaime Alberto Interregional competitiveness and the relationship between technology and competitiveness has increasingly become the object of considerable interest. The stimulation of innovation potentials within a region is becoming more and more decisive in the competition between regions. Although a precise definition of the term innovation potential is difficult, there is no doubt that it is essentially the stock of knowledge and its use which makes up the innovation potential of a region. This stock, however, is an inert factor. Its conversion into innovation underlines the importance of linkages and relationships in everyday innovation processes. Firms pursue co-operative agreements in order to gain rapid access to new technologies or new markets, to benefit from economies of scale in joint R&D and production to tap into essential resources of know-how and to share risks. These linkages possess a number of features which make the network mode a distinct from inter-firm organisation. This paper attempts to give a clear documentation of current innovation activities in the metropolitan region of Barcelone between the three major actors in innovations systems: industrial firms, producer services and research institutions. The presented results are based on representative surveys within an international comparative study in three major metropolitan areas in Europe (Barcelone, Stockholm and Vienna). The results of this research will be relevant for an understanding of how and why different industries build cooperative relationships in metropolitan regions. The results will also provide insights for policy efforts that can help to nurture and expand the regional economic base in the face of the current rapid globalisation of production. Keywords: Innovation potential, Innovation networks, Metropolitan regions, Barcelon

Propuesta para la implantación de un proceso creativo en organizaciones que desarrollan innovaciones tecnológicas

Weiner (1995) argumenta que las ideas fundamentales y fructíferas, son en gran medida accidentes afortunados e impredecibles. Pero también es cierto que la creatividad no es solo un momento, es un proceso que puede ser desarrollado de manera lógica y sistemática en las organizaciones y es en este proceso creativo donde los principios de solución son desarrollados a partir de oportunidades identificadas para impulsar innovaciones tecnológicas. Este artículo expone una metodología para aplicar sistemáticamente un proceso que involucra: Vigilancia tecnológica, Inteligencia competitiva, y Creatividad, –denominado por el autor "Proceso VIC"– para identificar principios de solución. Esta metodología involucra las siguientes fases: 1) Identificación de la oportunidad, 2) Búsqueda y procesamiento de datos e información, 3) Análisis de tendencias y propuesta de oportunidades, 4) Análisis de oportunidades y propuesta de nuevas ideas, y 5) Evaluación de las nuevas ideas. Para desarrollar esta propuesta, todas las fases han sido comprobadas experimentalmente.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Propuesta para la implantación de un proceso creativo en organizaciones que desarrollan innovaciones tecnológicas

Weiner (1995) argumenta que las ideas fundamentales y fructíferas, son en gran medida accidentes afortunados e impredecibles. Pero también es cierto que la creatividad no es solo un momento, es un proceso que puede ser desarrollado de manera lógica y sistemática en las organizaciones y es en este proceso creativo donde los principios de solución son desarrollados a partir de oportunidades identificadas para impulsar innovaciones tecnológicas. Este artículo expone una metodología para aplicar sistemáticamente un proceso que involucra: Vigilancia tecnológica, Inteligencia competitiva, y Creatividad, – denominado por el autor “Proceso VIC” – para identificar principios de solución. Esta metodología involucra las siguientes fases: 1) Identificación de la oportunidad, 2) Búsqueda y procesamiento de datos e información, 3) Análisis de tendencias y propuesta de oportunidades, 4) Análisis de oportunidades y propuesta de nuevas ideas, y 5) Evaluación de las nuevas ideas. Para desarrollar esta propuesta, todas las fases han sido comprobadas experimentalmente. ----------------------------------------- Weiner (1995) argues that the fundamental and fruitful ideas are great extent luck and unpredictable accidents. However it is also certain that creativity is not just a moment, it is a process that should be developed in logical and systematic way within organizations and it is in this creative process where the solution principles are developed from the identified opportunities to push technological innovations. This article show a methodology for the systematic application of a process using: technology watch techniques, competitive intelligence, and creativity – this is our newly suggested process is called "VIC process" – it allows identifying solution principles. This methodology involved these stages: 1) Identification of the opportunity, 2) Search and processing of data and information, 3) Analysis of trends and opportunities proposal, 4) Analysis of opportunities and proposing new ideas, and 5) Evaluation of new ideas. For the development of this proposal, all stages have been experimentally testedPeer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Análisis de patentes en el sector de los aceites esenciales como estrategia para impulsar el desarrollo regional en Antioquia

Los aceites esenciales son uno de los sectores estratégicos para desarrollar industrialmente en Antioquia, Colombia, a partir de sus recursos naturales. En este sentido, el impulso a dicho sector asociado a un modelo colectivo e interactivo de aprendizaje, acumulación y aplicación del conocimiento a partir de fuentes científicas y tecnológicas, en el que intervengan agentes ligados con el desarrollo tecnológico y la producción de bienes y servicios, debe contribuir al desarrollo regional de Antioquia. El objetivo de este análisis es presentar como a partir de la información de patentes, pueden ser identificadas oportunidades de innovación que contribuyan al desarrollo de Antioquia, permitiendo al estado, a la industria, las redes sociales, y a las instituciones de educación e investigación involucradas, disponer de datos, información, conocimiento e inteligencia (Rodríguez y Escorsa, 1998) actualizada y de mayor valor para la toma de decisiones que permitan impulsar el desarrollo regional. ------------------------------------------ Essential oils are one of the strategic sectors for industrial development in Antioquia (Colombia) from their natural resources. In this sense, the impetus to the sector associated with a collective and interactive learning, accumulation and application of knowledge from sources in science and technology, involving officers linked to technological development and production of goods and services, should contribute to regional development in Antioquia. The objective of this analysis is shown as from the patent information, can be identified opportunities for innovation that will contribute to the development of Antioquia, allowing the government, industry, social network, and institutions involved in education and research, providing data, information, knowledge and intelligence (Rodriguez y Escorsa, 1998) updated and higher value for making decisions to promote regional development.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Technology watch in the metal industrial SMEs: knowledge, application and assessment

RESUMEN. La complejidad del entorno económico y tecnológico obliga a las empresas a mejorar su competitividad mediante la innovación. En este contexto la vigilancia tecnológica (VT) como proceso sistemático que apoya a la innovación se convierte en una herramienta fundamental. En la bibliografía el interés por la VT ha evolucionado de la definición del concepto, implicaciones y medios, a su desarrollo práctico centrado en casos de estudio en grandes organizaciones. Sin embargo hay un déficit de trabajos que estudien el uso de la VT en las pymes y presenten los resultados de su utilización. Este trabajo analiza el grado de conocimiento y aplicación de la VT, cómo se desarrollan los procesos, qué frena su utilización y algunos de sus beneficios en 83 pymes industriales del sector del metal.ABSTRACT. The complexity of the economic and technological environment requires companies to improve their competitiveness through innovation. In this context technology watch (TW), a systematic process that supports innovation, becomes an essential tool. In the literature, interest in TW has evolved from the definition of the concept, implications and resources to its practical development, focused on case studies in large organizations. However, there is a lack of works that analyze its use and results in SMEs. Thus, we examine the degree of knowledge and application of TW, how processes are developed and what are its benefits in 83 metal industry SMEs