Knowledge and the diversity of innovation systems: a comparative analysis of European regions

The main goal of this paper is to shed some light on European regional diversity in terms of knowledge accumulation and socio-economic performances. Dynamic links between knowledge, innovation and performance are complex to address because they take place in different contexts, involving heterogeneous agents interacting through different institutions. Studies on national systems of innovation (Edquist, 1997) stressed the role of the institutional context in these dynamics and identify various configurations associated with these national systems. This conceptual framework, used at the regional level, leads to the identification of regional systems of innovation (Cooke, 2001) and thus underlines the limits of a regional scoreboard only based on high-tech indicators as it is usually proposed. This paper constitutes a first attempt to propose a more exhaustive effort in characterizing the diversity of "regional knowledge an innovation systems" within Europe. The study is performed through data analysis using the conceptual framework of "social systems of innovation and production" (SSIP) proposed by Amable, Barré and Boyer (1997). A Social System of Innovation and Production can be defined as a coherent combination of different components referring to Science-technology-industry (STI) configurations articulated with financial system, labour relations, education and training and economic performances. This framework can be adapted at the regional level by identifying specific arrangements of each part of the system even if the concept of system is questionable at this level. The analysis is performed combining data from three sources (Eurostat, the Cambridge Econometrics database and OST (Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques)) over a sample of NUTS-II european regions and using multivariate data analysis (principal component analysis, hierarchical anova). Putting together the SSIP and local economic performances allows defining different regional configurations in order to identify regional trajectories and patterns of articulation between knowledge dynamics and performance. Our hypothesis is that regional growth in not a problem of best practice but of coherent knowledge combination: institutional differences may lead similar (or different) STI structures to different (respectively same) performances.NARegional Innovation systems, Knowledge economy, Institutional diversity, European regions, Regional economic performances

Curved CMOS sensor: characterization of the first fully functional prototype

Many are the optical designs that generate curved focal planes for which field flattener must be implemented. This generally implies the use of more optical elements and a consequent loss of throughput and performances. With the recent development of curved sensor this can be avoided. This new technology has been gathering more and more attention from a very broad community, as the potential applications are multiple: from low-cost commercial to high impact scientific systems, to mass-market and on board cameras, defense and security, and astronomical community. We describe here the first concave curved CMOS detector developed within a collaboration between CNRS-LAM and CEA-LETI. This fully-functional detector 20Mpix (CMOSIS CMV20000) has been curved down to a radius of R_c =150mm over a size of 24x32mm^2. We present here the methodology adopted for its characterization and describe in detail all the results obtained. We also discuss the main components of noise, such as the readout noise, the fixed pattern noise and the dark current. Finally we provide a comparison with the at version of the same sensor in order to establish the impact of the curving process on the main characteristics of the sensor

Curved sensors: experimental performance of CMOS prototypes and wide field related imagers

The emergence of curved sensors technologies opens a new way to design compact high-performance optical systems. Recent progress on the French activity on curved sensors are presented in terms of optical performance and experimental results. The existing prototypes are demonstrated at TRL4, for VIS and SWIR domains. We present the roadmap jointly developed by CEA and CNRS to reach a higher TRL either on the performance of the devices or on the mass production processes. We present the results obtained on two demonstrators

Curved CMOS sensor: characterization of the first fully functional prototype

Many are the optical designs that generate curved focal planes for which field flattener must be implemented. This generally implies the use of more optical elements and a consequent loss of throughput and performances. With the recent development of curved sensor this can be avoided. This new technology has been gathering more and more attention from a very broad community, as the potential applications are multiple: from low-cost commercial to high impact scientific systems, to mass-market and on board cameras, defense and security, and astronomical community. We describe here the first concave curved CMOS detector developed within a collaboration between CNRS-LAM and CEA-LETI. This fully-functional detector 20Mpix (CMOSIS CMV20000) has been curved down to a radius of R_c =150mm over a size of 24x32mm^2. We present here the methodology adopted for its characterization and describe in detail all the results obtained. We also discuss the main components of noise, such as the readout noise, the fixed pattern noise and the dark current. Finally we provide a comparison with the at version of the same sensor in order to establish the impact of the curving process on the main characteristics of the sensor

Deformable curved sensors : multidisciplinary applications

Depuis plusieurs années, les détecteurs courbes ont été proposés comme étant une nouvelle approche pour améliorer les performances des caméras. En courbant les détecteurs, une des aberrations optiques, la courbure de champ, peut en effet être annulée, ce qui permet d’avoir une meilleure résolution ou d’utiliser moins de lentilles pour une même qualité d’image.Ce travail de thèse propose d’étudier cette approche, en essayant de prendre en compte les aspects mécaniques, optiques et technologiques du système final. Tout d’abord, le lien entre la scène et la courbure des capteurs est théorisé. Ainsi, la position et la forme de l’objet par rapport au système optique influent sur la valeur de courbure du capteur optimale. Une forte compacité est permise pour les systèmes optiques possédant cette courbure. Ces études théoriques permettent de créer une nouvelle méthodologie de conception optique. Celle-ci débute par la détermination des limites mécaniques du capteur, pouvant casser lorsque la courbure est élevée. Intégrant ces limites et les changements théoriques observés, une architecture optique est choisie, donnant de hautes performances en compacité, résolution et champ de vue. De nouvelles tolérances sont établies pour la courbure. Ce système est ensuite fabriqué pour être caractérisé. La forme des montre un léger écart à la sphère. La courbure n’a pas d’impact significatif sur les performances électro-optiques des détecteurs. La qualité de l’image caractérisée est perturbée par des tilts ou décentrements probables. Enfin une caractérisation utilisant un capteur plan et l’optique imageant sur une surface courbe permet d’obtenir des informations sur la courbure idéaleIn the past few years, curved sensors have been proposed to enhance optical systems. The curvature of these sensors improves off-axis aberrations, such as field curvature, which provides a better resolution and less complex optical systems.This work studies deformable and curved sensors development in a multidisciplinary approach. Firstly, scene and curved sensors are theoretically linked. The form and the position of the object change the curvature of the best image plane, leading to new relations adapted to optical systems with deformable sensors. Gains in compactness are also demonstrated. These investigations merge into a new methodology adapted to optical systems based on curved sensors that has been developed. The first step is to determine mechanical limits of the sensor such as maximum bending without breakage. Based on these limits, a new compact architecture is developed, providing high resolution and good field of view. New tolerances are determined to manufacture a system with its opto-mechanical mount. Finally, the entire imaging system is characterized. The form of the curved sensor is analyzed, showing few deviations from the ideal sphere. Electro-optical characterizations are realized and the image quality is determined according to the object distance, showing the effects of the deformable curvature. The ideal curved focal plane is also determined by combining a flat sensor to the manufactured optical syste

Analyse exploratoire de la diversité des systèmes régionaux d'innovation en Europe.

International audienc

Territorial knowlegde dynamics in two competitiveness poles

EURODITE WP5 report, EURODITE Integrated Project (6th FP) - 37 page