The Changing Economics of Technological Learning

This paper deals with the emergence of new technologies of learning. In general, new tools and technologies of learning (simulation methods, electronic networks, etc.) ease some of the problems in the economics of learning. They help to reduce costs of information processing and to preserve technological diversity, as it is economically feasible to maintain alternative technology designs much longer. These effects in turn have a positive influence on the adaptive capacity of the techno-economic system. First, it enables to explore an entire spectrum of technological variety and thus to broaden the portfolio of technological alternatives. Second, it enables to produce both effective outputs and knowledge in the process of using a technology. This means that knowledge and information about environmental impacts of a technology can be continuously generated very early on

Combining the production and the valorization of academic research: A qualitative investigation of enacted mechanisms.

The emergence of knowledge-based societies over the past decades has spurred research on the specific role of universities in innovation systems. The notion of academic entrepreneurship has gained acceptance among communities of researchers, practitioners and policy makers (Etzkowitz et al., 1998). At the same time, this acceptance seems impregnated by a constant alertness for the tensions that may arise. Concerns are uttered about shifts of the academic research agenda towards industry needs, resulting in fewer investments in basic research. Furthermore, the conflicting nature of the normative principles that guide academia and business has been warned for: competitive considerations and secrecy practices would stand in direct opposition to the principle of free dissemination of scientific knowledge (Dasgupta and David, 1987; Florida and Cohen, 1999; Geuna, 1999; Noble, 1977).Agency; Applicant; Assignee; Assignment; Business; Companies; Country; Data; EPO; Indicators; Information; Innovation; Institutional; Inventors; Methods; Order; Patent; Patent statistics; Patentee; Performance; Policy; Regions; Research; Researchers; Sector; Sector assignment; Technology; Time; University; USPTO; Innovation systems; Systems; Academic entrepreneurship; Community; Research agenda; Industry; Industries; Investments; Investment; Basic research; Principles; Dissemination; Knowledge;

Constitutive association of BRCA1 and c-Abl and its ATM-dependent disruption after irradiation

BRCA1 plays an important role in mechanisms of response to double-strand breaks, participating in genome surveillance, DNA repair, and cell cycle checkpoint arrests. Here, we identify a constitutive BRCA1-c-Abl complex and provide evidence for a direct interaction between the PXXP motif in the C terminus of BRCA1 and the SH3 domain of c-Abl. Following exposure to ionizing radiation (IR), the BRCA1-c-Abl complex is disrupted in an ATM-dependent manner, which correlates temporally with ATM-dependent phosphorylation of BRCA1 and ATM-dependent enhancement of the tyrosine kinase activity of c-Abl. The BRCA1-c-Abl interaction is affected by radiation-induced modification to both BRCA1 and c-Abl. We show that the C terminus of BRCA1 is phosphorylated by c-Abl in vitro. In vivo, BRCA1 is phosphorylated at tyrosine residues in an ATM-dependent, radiation-dependent manner. Tyrosine phosphorylation of BRCA1, however, is not required for the disruption of the BRCA1-c-Abl complex. BRCA1-mutated cells exhibit constitutively high c-Abl kinase activity that is not further increased on exposure to IR. We suggest a model in which BRCA1 acts in concert with ATM to regulate c-Abl tyrosine kinase activity

Can medical products be developed on a non-profit basis? Exploring product development partnerships for neglected diseases

Reliance on market forces can lead to underinvestment in social welfare enhancing innovation. The lack of new medical products in the area of neglected diseases is a case in point. R&D for neglected diseases has increased with new funding and collaborations taking place mainly through product development partnerships (PDPs). PDPs are self-governing, private non-profit R&D organizations. In contrast to push and pull instruments designed to address private-sector R&D underinvestment, PDPs have emerged voluntarily to address this public health challenge. In this study we examine how non-profit R&D collaboration for neglected diseases takes place through PDPs. We find that PDPs act as ‘system integrators' that leverage the resources and capabilities of a network of public, philanthropic and private-sector partners. This paper contributes to an understanding of R&D in a non-profit context and highlights the importance of collaboration and non-market institutions for promoting innovation where market failures occu

Towards a taxonomy of technological change

The paper presents an approach towards a taxonomy of technological change focusing on the dynamic processes of technological diffusion. The objective of the approach is to develop a synthetic measure of the transformation of the diffusion characteristics during the very process of diffusion of a technological innovation

Morphological Analysis, Diffusion and Lock-out of Technologies: Ferrous Casting in France and the FRG

In this paper, the authors address technological diffusion and substitution from two methodological angles. The first consists of a complete and comprehensive morphological analysis (MA) of a set of (process) technologies for a particular industry. In the second part, we use the results of our MA of the technological trajectories in the casting industry, to analyse their diffusion in two countries, France and Germany. With respect to the results of this work, we can express two observations. First, this case study will provide valuable insights on the conditions of exit from a "lock-in" situation. Second, the MA will permit us to avoid misinterpretation concerning the asymetrical character and discontinuities of the diffusion trajectory of the technology under consideration

The emergence of an educational tool industry: Opportunities and challenges for innovation in education

The paper addresses two issues. One concerns the general conditions and procedures involved in the emergence of a tool industry. Tool industries emerge and evolve as a collection of capital goods and tool inventors and manufacturers. One of our goals is to use some of the works on historical cases to build a heuristic framework concerning the main conditions for the emergence and development of tool industries. The other issue is more factual and involves the question whether a tool industry is today emerging in the area of education. The paper describes the emergence of a population of firms specialised in developing and commercialising educational tools and instructional technologies and discuss whether this trend can be seen as part of the solution to the innovation deficit and cost disease problems in this sector? (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The early experience of smart specialization implementation in EU cohesion policy

This paper discusses the early-stage experience of the smart specialization agenda within EU Cohesion Policy. The analysis examines the types of policy prioritization choices made by different member states and regions and seeks evidence on the extent to which weaker regions, in particular, might be constrained in their choices. The paper then reviews the evidence arising out of various surveys of policy-makers’ own experience and perceptions of the agenda, and concludes with a discussion of the major features of the policy progress so far and the main challenges ahead