Embedding Stand-Alone, ‘Local Buzz’ and ‘Global Pipeline’ Firms; a Plea for a Less Traditional Regional Innovation Policy

This paper deals with the policy implications of a research project based on a non-traditional approach to innovation measurement in a Dutch region. This region is characterized by an ‘innovation paradox’, as it lodges large numbers of ‘creative’ people while it also underperforms in traditional innovation measurements. A survey among experts regarding regional innovation yields large numbers of innovative firms in a wide range of industries, which in traditional studies would partly go unnoticed. Further data analysis reveals that innovation in the region has no clear face in terms of firms and sectors. This is due to the embroynic state of clustering in different subsectors, the mostly social and informal nature of network ties between entrepreneurs in the region, the international level at which much innovation-oriented networking takes place, and the lack of connectivity between the latter networks and local informal networks and the embryonic clusters. In terms of their innovation profile, firms in the region are strong in creative, non-technical and combined forms of innovation. So, dynamic capabilities especially show up ‘downstream’, connecting novelty with clients and markets, and translating this into change management and new practices. Next, we found that firms strategically engage in innovation ventures, in the three ways that were explained before by Bathelt et al. (2004), i.e. seeking and combining international knowledge with one’s own (constructing ‘global pipelines’), strengthening regional ties, identity, contact and linkages (‘local buzz’), and relying on one’s own resources for innovation (‘stand alone’ strategy). One challenge for policy is to exploit these three strategies of firms. Such can be done in three ways. One is to use the abundant social capital in the region, with a view to strengthening the economic relevance of existing local networks by constructing and extending ‘global pipelines’. The second is to display leadership and formulate a ‘community argument’ for innovation (dealing with the following sub questions: why must I innovate, why must I interact in networks and clusters, and why should I do so at different spatial scales?), thus strategically reorienting the available ‘local buzz’ and enhancing its economic relevance. Together, these two proposals serve the purpose of stimulating knowledge flows ‘outside-in’ and ‘inside-out’ (cf. Wolfe & Gertler 2005). The third is to correct for the policy myopia on cluster and network initiatives. The price we pay for the Porterian approach to clustering (cf. Martin & Sunley 2003; Hospers 2005) is that a significant number of firms in the region under review that individually engage in innovation processes, are not part of ‘global pipeline’ and ‘local buzz’ processes. Hence, they do not enrich nor benefit from these processes, and may thus relatively easy leave the region. Finally, they may be less effective in innovation, in terms of speed and the market fit of new products and processes. So, both from a regional and firm-level perspective, stand-alone firms merit attention.

Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Study of Aqueous Solvation of Ethanol and Ethylene

The structure and dynamics of aqueous solvation of ethanol and ethylene are studied by DFT-based Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics. We did not find an enhancement of the structure of the hydrogen bonded network of hydrating water molecules. Both ethanol and ethylene can easily be accommodated in the hydrogen-bonded network of water molecules without altering its structure. This is supports the conclusion from recent neutron diffraction experiments that there is no hydrophobic hydration around small hydrophobic groups. Analysis of the electronic charge distribution using Wannier functions shows that the dipole moment of ethanol increases from 1.8 D to 3.1 D upon solvation, while the apolar ethylene molecule attains an average dipole moment of 0.5 D. For ethylene, we identified configurations with $\pi$-H bonded water molecules, that have rare four-fold hydrogen-bonded water coordination, yielding instantaneous dipole moments of ethylene of up to 1 D. The results provide valuable information for the improvement of empirical force fields, and point out that for an accurate description of the aqueous solvation of ethanol, and even of the apolar ethylene, polarizable force fields are required.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables, revtex4, submitted to J. Chem. Phy

Beyond clusters: Fostering innovation through a differentiated and combined network approach

Over the past decades, economic and innovation policy across Europe moved in the direction of creating regional clusters of related firms and institutions. Creating clusters through public policy is risky, complex and costly, however. Moreover, it is not necessary to rely on clusters to stimulate innovation. A differentiated and combined network approach to enhancing innovation and stimulating economic growth may be more efficient and effective, especially though not exclusively in regions lacking clusters. The challenge of such a policy is to mitigate the bottlenecks associated with ‘global pipeline’, ‘local buzz’ and ‘stand alone’ strategies used by innovative firms (cf. Bathelt et al. 2004; Atzema & Visser 2005b), and to combine these strategies with a view to their complementarity in terms of knowledge effects. Private and semi-public brokers will be key in the evolving policy, as timely organizational change is crucial for continued innovation, while brokers also need to mitigate governance problems. This requires region-specific knowledge in terms of sectors, life cycles, institutional and socio-cultural factors, and yields spatially differentiated and differentiating adjustment strategies. The role of public policy is to assist in recruiting, provide start-up funding and monitor brokers. With this, policy moves towards a decentralized, process-based, region-specific, spatially diverging and multi-level system of innovation that is geared towards the evolving innovation strategies of firms.innovation policy, clusters, networks, governance, regionalization

Improvement of Thymopoiesis after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation by Cytokines: Translational studies in experimental animal models

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AlloHSCT) is a powerful treatment modality that is frequently applied as part of treatment of hematological malignancies, aplastic anemia and inborn errors of hematopoietic progenitor cells. A major drawback of alloHSCT is the treatment related morbidity and treatment related mortality (TRM), which are largely accounted for by opportunistic infections. Those infections occur during a prolonged period (1-2 years), characterized by an impaired reconstitution of the adaptive immune system. Especially, the recovery of naïve T cells and thymopoiesis are protracted after transplantation, but are considered pivotal for restoration of anti-infectious immunity. This thesis has experimentally addressed new strategies that may improve thymopoiesis, including the post-transplant administration of cytokines that are physiologically involved in the differentiation and proliferation of thymocytes

Transaction costs, logistics and the spatial-functional dynamics of supply chains

Whether one takes a manufacturing, logistics or supply chain perspective, three trends appear to drive on continuous and substantial change in the business world. Firstly, the long-term trend in economic policy-making is one of liberalising and deregulating markets as well as privatising state-owned operations, enabling the internationalisation of economies and firms. Secondly, the long-term trend in consumer markets is one of more diversity, change and complexity of products ('mass customisation') along with the globalisation of markets (enhancing the importance of 'global brands'). Thirdly, technological development in the areas of transport, information and communication allow for increased flexibility and specialisation in production logistics and supply chains. This paper discerns several interrelated patterns of strategic adjustment of firms to the above trends in the general business environment. One is to focus on core competences. Businesses specialise in a limited set of operations where their core skills lie, outcontracting those beyond. Inter-firm division of labour in a network context has thus become a major pathway to enhanced productivity and innovation. Supply chains can be conceived as vertical networks of manufacturing, logistics and retail businesses. Here, three additional patterns of change can be observed: the reversal, integration and glocalisation of supply chains. Postponed manufacturing, EDCs and e-logistics are expressions of these patterns. However, the available empirical evidence on postponement applications in Northwest Europe and the Dutch logistics sector suggests that adjustment falls short of expectations. In this paper, we formulate the hypothesis that the observed patterns of adjustment in logistics and supply chains can be explained by looking at three cost types and related constraints that firms face in the adjustment process. These are - the costs of transforming raw materials into final products: the so-called 'transformation' (or production) costs; - the costs of bridging time and space barriers: 'logistics costs'; and - the costs of transfering ownership in market transactions or coordinating an inter-firm division of labour and managing risks (of relying on specialised partners) in a business network context: the so-called 'transaction costs' % cf. Coase and Williamson). Transformation and logistics costs are subject to optimalisation trade-offs; these are taken into account in current theorising on logistics and supply chain developments. Transaction costs, however, are to be reduced by designing adequate 'governance structures' (static perspective), or by relying on various trust-building mechanisms that allow for inter-firm division of labour to proceed across the transformation/logistics interface (dynamic perspective). Clearly, this last influences the location decisions of firms and the prospects for regional development. For a more recent version of this article see Visser, E.J., and Lambooy, J.G. 2005. A dynamic transaction cost perspective on fourth party logistic service development. Geographische Zeitschrift 92 (1+2): 5-2

Dynamic interplay between defective UiO‐66 and protic solvents in activated processes

UiO-66, composed by Zr-oxide inorganic bricks [Zr-6(mu(3)-O)(4)(mu(3)-OH)(4)] and organic terephthalate linkers, is one of the most studied metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) due to its exceptional thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Thanks to its high connectivity, the material can withstand structural deformations during activation processes such as linker exchange, dehydration, and defect formation. These processes do alter the zirconium coordination number in a dynamic way, creating open metal sites for catalysis and thus are able to tune the catalytic properties. In this work, it is shown, by means of first-principle molecular-dynamics simulations at operating conditions, how protic solvents may facilitate such changes in the metal coordination. Solvent can induce structural rearrangements in the material that can lead to undercoordinated but also overcoordinated metal sites. This is demonstrated by simulating activation processes along well-chosen collective variables. Such enhanced MD simulations are able to track the intrinsic dynamics of the framework at realistic conditions

Development of an upwind sailing ergometer

Purpose: To develop a sailing ergometer that accurately simulates upwind sailing exercise. Methods: A sailing ergometer that measures roll moment accompanied by a biofeedback system that allows imposing a certain quasi-isometric upwind sailing protocol (ie, 18 bouts of 90-s hiking at constantly varying hiking intensity interspersed with 10 s to tack) was developed. Ten male high-level Laser sailors performed an incremental cycling test (ICT; ie, step protocol at 80W + 40 W/3 min) and an upwind sailing test (UST). During both, heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilation (V-E), respiratory-exchange ratio, and rating of perceived exertion were measured. During UST, also the difference between the required and produced hiking moment (HM) was calculated as error score (ES). HR, VO2, and V-E were calculated relative to their peak values determined during ICT. After UST, the subjects were questioned about their opinion on the resemblance between this UST and real-time upwind sailing. Results: An average HM of 89.0% +/- 2.2% HMmax and an average ES of 4.1% +/- 1.8% HMmax were found. Mean HR, VO2, and V-E were, respectively, 80% +/- 4% HRpeak, 39.5% +/- 4.5% VO2peak, and 30.3% +/- 3.7% V-Epeak. Both HM and cardiorespiratory values appear to be largely comparable to literature reports during on-water upwind sailing. Moreover, the subjects gave the upwind sailing ergometer a positive resemblance score. Conclusions: Results suggest that this ergometer accurately simulates on-water upwind sailing exercise. As such, this ergometer could be a great help in performance diagnostics and training follow-up