Innovation Ecosystems in the Context of Economic Development: A case study of Kraków, Poland

The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the innovation ecosystem, which remains a fragmented concept, and to analyse its role in the economic development of states. The objective is achieved by first, drawing on the existing literature and theoretical framework that concerns innovation ecosystems, and by subsequently analysing the nexus between these entities and the economic development of states. The main contribution this paper makes to scholarly debate on innovation ecosystems is in attempting to link theoretical assessments with empirical observations. By drawing on the case study of the innovation landscape in Kraków, Poland, this paper offers a first-hand insight into the role of local actors and mechanisms determining the performance of the ecosystem based on primary research. As such, the study attempts to review specific stages of innovation development and the unique role of start-ups and SMEs within the ecosystem. By crossing through historical, economic and social contexts, the study embarks on a multidisciplinary as well as “causes-of-effects” approach. The different roots of the Polish innovation ecosystem are discussed, yet not failing to address the future prospects for innovation in the country. Finally, the study attempts to structure Poland’s start-up experience as a guide by discerning the actors and mechanisms that drive a healthy ecosystem. In such a context, the Polish experience can be informative for CEE countries where start-up ecosystems exist at the nascent stage

Innovation ecosystems in the context of economic development: a case study of Kraków, Poland

The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the innovation ecosystem, which remains a fragmented concept, and to analyse its role in the economic development of states. The objective is achieved by first, drawing on the existing literature and theoretical framework that concerns innovation ecosystems, and by subsequently analysing the nexus between these entities and the economic development of states. The main contribution this paper makes to scholarly debate on innovation ecosystems is in attempting to link theoretical assessments with empirical observations. By drawing on the case study of the innovation landscape in Kraków, Poland, this paper offers a first-hand insight into the role of local actors and mechanisms determining the performance of the ecosystem based on primary research. As such, the study attempts to review specific stages of innovation development and the unique role of start-ups and SMEs within the ecosystem. By crossing through historical, economic and social contexts, the study embarks on a multidisciplinary as well as "causes-of-effects" approach. The different roots of the Polish innovation ecosystem are discussed, yet not failing to address the future prospects for innovation in the country. Finally, the study attempts to structure Poland’s start-up experience as a guide by discerning the actors and mechanisms that drive a healthy ecosystem. In such a context, the Polish experience can be informative for CEE countries where start-up ecosystems exist at the nascent stage

Organizational innovation for SME'S: a model for Latvia

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can be a significant source of innovation in small economies. SMEs face challenges of limited capacity, personnel and resources for long-term investments. Additionally, they might not see and understand the benefits of innovation. Implementation of organizational innovation (OI) could give such enterprises an opportunity to improve competitiveness and develop other types of innovation. The purpose of this study is to develop a model, explaining OI through such factors as organizational culture (OC) and knowledge management (KM) in SMEs via an empirical study across various industries. Surveying 600 SMEs in Latvia, the authors explore the contribution of organizational factors - cooperation, trust, inclusive decision making, result orientation and long-term strategic planning, as well as knowledge management and organizational learning processes to OI performance. The authors propose a conceptual model in several steps, the current step focuses on Organizational Innovation Analysis through Regression Methods and on a final step a whole model for all kinds of Innovation outputs (not only organizational) will be designed through Structural Equation Modelling. After current analysis the influence of Human/Individual values over Organizational Innovation seems to be confirmed

A firm’s organizational innovation and organizational learning abilities

Many recent studies are dedicated to the problem of innovation as a mean of improving a firm’s overall performance. Various kinds of innovation in a firm usually are closely interrelated with each other. While the majority of studies focus on technological - product and process - innovation, the investigation of non-technological - marketing and organizational - innovation (ORI), has increasingly attracted the interest of researchers during the last decade. Organizational culture and organizational learning are important drivers of such innovation. For instance, a collaborative culture, trust and open-mindedness encourage new initiatives and ideas, while learning helps not just to improve skillsets and abilities of individual employees, but can also greatly contribute to strategic knowledge management and building a resilient, innovative organization. This study examines the relationship between a firm’s organizational learning ability and its organizational innovation performance. The authors consider such factors as Learning Intention – seeing learning as a key investment and organizational commitment to it, and Openness - open-mindedness and organizational culture open to new ideas and worldviews. This study contributes to the theory of ORI by finding the answer to the question what impact these factors could have on ORI development in a firm. The findings are based on a quantitative analysis of more than 150 small and medium-sized enterprises surveyed in Russia and Latvia. The survey questions measuring ORI performance were developed in line with the widely used definition introduced in the OECD - Eurostat Oslo Manual. The scales for organizational learning were adopted from the previous studies elaborated this area of a firm activity. The survey compared a firm’s innovation performance to that of its closest competitors. This research demonstrates that some of the elements of organizational learning positively influence ORI activity. The results also suggest that Latvian companies differ from Russian ones in terms of their organizational learning intention

FIRMS’ RESOURCES AS INNOVATION DETERMINING FACTOR IN LOW-TECH INDUSTRIES

UZŅĒMUMU RESURSI KĀ INOVĀCIJAS IETEKMĒJOŠAIS FAKTORS Šī promocijas darba mērķis ir izstādāt metodoloģiju un pēc tās novērtēt dažādu uzņēmumu resursu veidu saistību ar inovāciju ieviešanu un izaugsmi zemo tehnoloģiju nozarēs Latvijā. Darba teorētiskajam pamatojumam ir izmantotas vairākas savstarpēji saistītas teorētiskās koncepcijas, tādas kā uz resursiem balstītā pieeja, sociālā kapitāla teorija un inovāciju teorija. Empīriskajam pētījumam izvēlēti uzņēmumi pārtikas rūpniecības nozarē un viesnīcu sektorā. Pētījuma rezultāti daļēji apstiprina izvirzīto hipotēzi: uzņēmuma speciālajām kompetencēm ir lielākā ietekme uz inovāciju skaitu un uzņēmuma izaugsmes rādītājiem salīdzinājumā ar materiālajiem resursiem. Proti, gan pārtikas rūpniecības uzņēmumu, gan arī viesnīcu izlasē speciālajām kompetencēm ir lielāka ietekme uz inovācijām, tomēr uzņēmumu izaugsmi pārtikas rūpniecības nozarē būtiskāk ietekmē piekļuve materiālajiem resursiem. Atslēgas vārdi: inovācijas, zemo tehnoloģiju nozares, uz resursiem balstītā pieejaFIRMS’ RESOURCES AS INNOVATION DETERMINING FACTOR IN LOW-TECH INDUSTRIES The aim of this thesis is to elaborate methodology for assessment of an impact of firms’ resources on innovations and growth in low-tech sectors in Latvia. As theoretical background for this study are used such theories as Resource based view, social capital theory and innovation theory. Within empirical study small and medium enterprises from food production industry and hotel sector were analyzed. Results of the study partly confirm hypothesis: firm’s special competences are more significant as determinants of innovations in comparison to material resources. For SMEs in both studied industries special competences are more important for implementation of innovations. However, access to material resources is more related to firms’ growth in food sector than special competences. Key words: innovations, low-technology sectors, Resource Based Vie

Social Capital and Innovations in the Context of a National Innovation System: Analysis of Cooperation among Innovative Latvian and Estonian Food Industry Enterprises

This article analyses the role of cooperation, social networks and social capital in stimulating innovations in enterprises which shape the basis for a knowledge-based economy in Latvi

Sociālā kapitāla koncepcija, īpatnības un ietekme uz ekonomisko izaugsmi

Rakstā tiek analizēta sociālā kapitāla būtība, veidi un dimesijas, ietekme uz uzņēmējdarbību un ekonomik