MULTISCALAR CLUSTERS AND NETWORKS AS THE FOUNDATIONS OF INNOVATION DYNAMICS IN THE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Based on the case of the biopharmaceutical industry, the aim of this paper is to challenge the core conviction now widespread within the “spatial clustering theory”, which devotes a key (if not exclusive) role to geographical proximity in explaining clustering dynamics of innovation activities within spe-cific territories. Our argument is threefold. First, mere geographical proximity is not enough; in many cases, cognitive, organizational and strategic forms of proximity are often at least as crucial as the topological closeness among inno-vation actors. Second, our idea is that clusters are fundamentally the territoria-lized outcome of combinations of inter-organizational and social networks among actors pursuing common goals, each of these actors having a specific territorial and social embedding that allows him or her (or not) to operate and interact at different spatial scales. These networks are socially and territorially embedded, but they can operate at various spatial scales. Third, sector-driven dynamics – as is in the case of biopharmaceuticals – may structurally frame the way the actors interact and collaborate in R&D projects and innovation proce-sses. Indeed, the dynamics underlying the emergence, structuring and evolution of biopharmaceutical clusters are both multi-actor and multiscalar. In this perspective, clusters and networks appear to be intertwined phenomena, con-substantial one to each other, and co-evolving organizational modes of biop-harmaceutical innovation.BIOCLUSTERS, FORMS OF PROXIMITY, INNOVATION NETWORKS, SPATIAL SCALES

A Supply Chain Equilibrium Model with General Price-Dependent Demand

The concept of supply chain equilibrium has been widely employed to solve real-life cases. Under this concept, decisions makers move simultaneously and compete in a noncooperative manner to achieve a supply chain network equilibrium. This paper proposes a supply chain network equilibrium model consisting of multiple raw material suppliers, manufacturers and retailers. Unlike previous studies, we assume that the demand for the product at each retail outlet is modeled as general stochastic functions of price that encompass additive-multiplicative demand models used in previous studies. Under general price-dependent demand functions, we derive the optimality conditions of suppliers, manufacturers and retailers, and establish that the governing equilibrium conditions can be formulated as a finite-dimensional variational inequality problem. The existence and uniqueness of the solution to the variational inequality are examined. A sensitivity analysis and a series of numerical tests are conducted to illustrate the analytical effects of demand distribution, model parameters, demand level and variability on quantity shipments, prices, and expected profits. Managerial insights are reported to show the impact of different types of demand functions and model parameters on the equilibrium solutions

Dual sourcing inventory management with nonconsecutive lead times from a supply chain perspective: a numerical study

We study a stochastic multi-period two-echelon dual sourcing inventory system where the buyer can source a product from two different suppliers: a regular and an expedited supplier. The regular supplier is a low-cost offshore supplier, whereas the expedited supplier is a responsive nearshore supplier. Such dual sourcing inventory systems have been well studied in the literature, mostly being solely evaluated from the buyer’s perspective. Since the buyer’s decisions have an impact on the supply chain profit, we adopt the perspective of the entire supply chain, i.e., by taking the suppliers explicitly into consideration. In addition, we study this system for general (nonconsecutive) lead times for which the optimal policy is unknown or very complex. We numerically compare the performance of two different policies in a two-echelon setting: the Dual-Index Policy (DIP) and the Tailored Base-Surge Policy (TBS). From earlier studies we know that when the lead time difference is one period, DIP is optimal from the buyer’s perspective, but not necessarily from the supply chain perspective. On the other hand, when the lead time difference grows to infinity, TBS becomes optimal for the buyer. In this paper, we evaluate the policies numerically (under various conditions) and we show that from a supply chain perspective, TBS typically outperforms DIP at a limited lead time difference of a few time periods. Based on data collected from 51 manufacturing firms, the results of our paper imply for many supply chains with a dual sourcing setting that TBS quickly becomes a beneficial policy alternative, especially given its simple and appealing structure

Les clusters et les reseaux comme fondements de la dynamique d'innovation dans l'industrie biopharmaceutique (Clusters and networks as the foundations of innovation dynamics in the biopharmaceutical industry)

Pour rendre compte des phénomènes de réticularisation et d’agglomération croissantes des activités d’innovation, de nombreux travaux empiriques et théoriques dans diverses disciplines (économie, sociologie, géographie, management) ont souligné l’importance des logiques de proximité. C’est dans ce cadre que s’est forgée l’idée que c’est au sein des clusters que se gagne désormais la compétition induite par les dynamiques d’innovation soutenue et de globalisation rapide, notamment dans les secteurs high-tech. Toutefois, en dépit d’une très large diffusion, cette conviction manque aujourd’hui encore d’assise théorique et empirique. À partir du cas de la biopharmacie, cet article cherche ainsi à montrer que si les clusters sont une des conditions permissives du processus de production et de diffusion de l’innovation, ils n’en constituent pas pour autant une condition suffisante, ni même forcément la forme organisationnelle et spatiale la plus adaptée, en particulier dans un contexte de plus en plus incertain et globalisé. In order to explain why innovation activities are increasingly structuring through networking and agglomeration dynamics, numerous empirical and theoretical works in various disciplines (economics, geography, sociology, management) have stressed the crucial role of spatial proximity. Following this conviction, the idea has emerged that “clusters” has become the key competitive tools within a context of sustained innovation dynamics and rapid globalization, notably in high-tech industries. However, despite its wide spread among academics and practitioners, this conviction still lacks solid theoretical and empirical foundations. Drawing from the case of biopharmaceuticals, this paper aims at showing that if clusters are one of the keys of the processes underlying innovative activities and the diffusion of innovations, they are far from constituting a sufficient condition or even more necessarily the appropriate organizational and spatial form of these processes, particularly in a context of globalization and growing uncertainties.Bioclusters, Emergence and Structuring Dynamics, Forms of Proximity,Innovation Networks, Spatial Scales

A new schedule-based transit assignment model with travel strategies and supply uncertainties

This paper proposes a new scheduled-based transit assignment model. Unlike other schedule-based models in the literature, we consider supply uncertainties and assume that users adopt strategies to travel from their origins to their destinations. We present an analytical formulation to ensure that on-board passengers continuing to the next stop have priority and waiting passengers are loaded on a first-come-first-serve basis. We propose an analytical model that captures the stochastic nature of the transit schedules and in-vehicle travel times due to road conditions, incidents, or adverse weather. We adopt a mean variance approach that can consider the covariance of travel time between links in a space–time graph but still lead to a robust transit network loading procedure when optimal strategies are adopted. The proposed model is formulated as a user equilibrium problem and solved by an MSA-type algorithm. Numerical results are reported to show the effects of supply uncertainties on the travel strategies and departure times of passengers.postprin

Alain Rallet et André Torre (Eds.), 2007, Quelles proximités pour innover ?, L’Harmattan, Paris, Collection « Géographies en liberté », 221 p.

Au moment où de nombreux pays s’interrogent sur la manière d’organiser spatialement — notamment sous forme de « clusters » ou de « pôles de compétitivité » — les activités d’innovation afin de renforcer leur compétitivité industrielle et technologique, l’ouvrage coordonné par Alain Rallet et André Torre est plus que bienvenu. Allant à l’encontre du « dogme » imprégnant l’essentiel de la littérature sur le sujet, l’introduction générale de l’ouvrage met d’emblée en doute l’idée selon laquelle ..

Développement durable. Dynamiques des territoires ruraux et logiques d’acteurs

Les problématiques liées au développement durable (DD) recouvrent des spécificités et des enjeux différenciés selon la nature, l’échelle et les caractéristiques structurelles des territoires concernés. Territoires urbains versus territoires ruraux ou « rurbains », échelle nationale versus échelle régionale ou locale, territoires fragiles ou menacés versus territoires permissifs ou avantagés sont ainsi devenus des points d’entrée structurant les analyses théorique et empirique des dynamiques t..

NON-IN VITRO FERTILIZATION INDUCTION OF OVULATION EXPERIENCE.

Infertility has always been a preoccupation in a couple?s life. To tackle this infertility, a therapeutic arsenal is available but can be expensive. In Morocco, the lack of coverage by infertility health insurances can lead to a late care for the couples who need it. The objective of this work is to present a non-in vitro fertilization (non-IVF) stimulation method, which is more affordable. However, this technique is only possible when sperm parameters, the biological check-up and the tubular permeability allow it. This is a retrospective study on infertile couples gathered into two Assisted Human Reproduction private practices, from January 2007 to January 2017. The protocol we have been using includes clomiphene citrate and FSH. 998 couples analyses have been compiled. 2674 cycles of non-IVF induction of ovulation were undergone. The presence of one or several follicles was noticed in 2450 cycles. This has led to 598 pregnancies, 18 of which are twin pregnancies. Our results, which stay stable, reassure us into keeping up the use of this protocol

Social Innovation as a Driver of Urban Transformation? The Case of Planning Approaches in the Dominican Republic

This article assesses the role of social innovation (SI) as a driver of urban transformation through the case-based analysis of an ambitious social housing urban project in the Dominican Republic, specifically in the emblematic slum La Barquita, in the heart of northern Santo Domingo. This project was led by a dedicated public body, URBE, which is in charge of the coordination of several institutions and the management of the community participation. Since La Nueva Barquita integrates dimensions regarding the satisfaction of human needs, change in social relations, and increase of citizens’ sociopolitical capabilities, it may be considered a socially innovative initiative in the territorial development discussion. The article builds first on the literature on SI by drawing attention on governance and institutional structures in specific urban contexts. Based on a series of semi-direct interviews, it then focuses on the analysis of key moments regarding the definition, implementation and evaluation of the institutional dimension of the project from its launching in 2013