Nuclear Waste Disposal in France : the Contribution of Economic Analysis.

This article addresses the following question: How to deal with uncertainty, emergence of new information and irreversibility in the decision process of the long-term disposal of radioactive waste? Intuitively, one might think that measures taken today are more relevant when they are ‡exible. We show that the theoretical economic insights supplements this intuition and more precisely we emphasize the real options theory as one means of valuing ‡exible strategies in the disposal of highly radioactive waste. Moreover, we argue that the optional approach must involve a more complex utilization in the recently developed French project of reversible repository given the presence of multiple disposal stages.Radioactive waste, Real options, Reversibility.

Entering the KIBS' black box: there must be an angel! (or is there something like a knowledge angel?)

The undeniable importance of knowledge and innovation in modern economies justifies the increasing interest that scholars are taking in studying knowledge-intensive busi-ness services (KIBS). Since the mid 1990s, there has been a significant increase in the attention paid to KIBS and their role and functions in innovation systems (den Hertog 2000; Illeris 1991; Miles et al. 1995; Muller/Zenker 2001; Strambach 2001; Tether 2005; Wood 2002). In general terms, the activity of KIBS can be mainly described as the provision of knowledge-intensive inputs to the business process of other organiza-tions, private as well as public sector clients. [...] To sum up, this paper focuses on creative individuals in KIBS, i.e. those persons sus-pected of playing a pertinent role with respect to the innovativeness of their company. We call these specific actors knowledge angels by analogy with business angels. In the same way that business angels can play a decisive role in the development of innova-tive firms through financial support, we assume here that specifically gifted persons can be the knowledge 'catalysts' within KIBS (and in relationship with their clients). The paper contains three sections: the first one formulates the assumption of the exis-tence of knowledge angels and attempts to elaborate a working definition of this spe-cific kind of actor. The second section displays the results of an empirical research pro-ject conducted in France and Germany, whereas the third section synthesizes the find-ings. --

"Scientific and technological density of regions : the impact on firms’ competence to innovate"

The purpose of the paper is to present possible approaches of the innovative potential of the regions, with an empirical application concerning the relation between characteristics of regions (scientific and technological density) and the firm’s competencies. Regions, which are territories with specific institutional and techno-economic characteristics, will be considered here as significant contexts for innovation processes. By using the word “context”, we want to underline the importance of regional characteristics, even in a globalised economy, but we are reluctant to speak of regional “system” without carefully analysing the possible meaning of such a notion. RIS is a useful concept if it one stresses its cognitive content – a way of interacting that leads to specific competence to innovate – but can be misleading if understood as an ex ante given network of actors and infrastructures. An important characterisation of territorial specificity in evolutionary terms is the cognitive potential of actors. For instance, firms’ capabilities vary to a large extent following the type of innovation under consideration : outcome of science-based R&D, particular competitiveness in marketing innovative products, incremental improvements through learning by using (N. Rosenberg) or other sort of learning by interacting (B-A. Lundvall). To give an empirical example, we will use the results of a survey of the French industry focusing on the innovative competence of the firms. We have developed an econometric model for testing the influence of the regional scientific and technological context on the nature of the “competence to innovate” declared by the firms in the inquiry. This study is an opportunity to cast light on the concept of critical interfaces evoked by K. Pavitt (1998), by underlining several schemes of industrial development according to specific characteristics of industries and regions. Designing differentiated regional policies on the basis of such an analysis seems to be possible.

France: innovation system and innovation policy

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Detection of brown dwarfs by the micro-lensing of unresolved stars

The presence of brown dwarfs in the dark galactic halo could be detected through their gravitational lensing effect and experiments under way monitor about one million stars to observe a few lensing events per year. We show that if the photon flux from a galaxy is measured with a good precision, it is not necessary to resolve the stars and besides more events could be observed.Comment: 14 p., LaTeX, 4 figures available on request, PAR-LPTHE 92 39/LPC 92 1

Impact économique régional d'un pôle universitaire : application au cas strasbourgeois

Cet article analyse les résultats d'une étude de l'impact économique d'un pôle universitaire sur son territoire local. L'université est, en effet, une structure consommatrice directe de biens et services, pouvant induire un impact significatif sur l'économie locale. Son impact direct concerne également la localisation d'un certain nombre de salariés et d'étudiants, eux-mêmes acteurs économiques à part entière. Enfin, de par sa vocation d'enseignement et de recherche, l'Université agit comme un moteur du développement local, puisqu'elle pourvoit à l'amélioration du " capital humain " et agit ainsi comme une force attractive pour toute une catégorie d'entreprises à la recherche de compétences universitaires. Outre les résultats obtenus (représentatifs d'un grand site universitaire régional), cet article évoque les questions méthodologiques liées à ce type d'évaluation économique.Economic impact, university, territory, evaluation

A regional typology of innovation capacities in new member States & candidate countries

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La mesure de l'impact des clusters: Quelques éléments de réflexion et de bibliographie

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