Linking learning with governance in networks and clusters: key issues for analysis and policy

In this paper we analyse the relationship between governance and learning in clusters and networks. In particular, we see these two key elements as interdependent, suggesting that, under particular circumstances, such interdependence may drive clusters and networks towards a dynamic development trajectory. A pure ‘governance perspective’ makes the development of any locality dependent on the system of powers which exists within the locality or across the global value chain. In parallel, a pure ‘competence-based approach’ focuses mainly on the capabilities of actors to learn and undertake activities. In contrast, we open the prospects for an interdependent relation that may change the actual competences of actors as well as the governance settings and dynamics in networks and clusters. When supported by public policies, the learning process may have the potential to modify the governance environment. Simultaneously, the learning process is intrinsically influenced by economic power, which may seriously affect the development prospects of clusters and networks. This is why an intertwined consideration of both aspects is necessary to promote specific approaches to learning and to design appropriate policies. In this paper we offer two preliminary case studies to clarify some of these dynamics: the first taken from the computers cluster in Costa Rica and the second from an Italian bio-pharmaceutical firm and its production network. The first case study refers to the software cluster that was created from scratch in Costa Rica thanks to an enlightened government policy in coordination with new local enterprises and an important foreign direct investor; while the second reflects on the ability of an individual company to create a network of relationships with large transnational companies in order to acquire new competences without falling into a subordinate position with respect to its larger partners

A Quantitative Approach to Innovation in Agricultural Value Chains: Evidence from Kenyan Horticulture

In less developed countries such as Kenya, trade is increasingly occurring through, and employment is found within, global and local value chains. Yet, although innovation is widely recognised as crucial for development, the endogenous relationship between small-scale innovations and participation in global value chains (GVCs) has yet to be explored sufficiently. This endogeneity is highlighted using the 3L’s of labels, linkages and learnings as key overlapping factors that affect both the processes of innovation as well as GVC participation. Drawing on a survey of 320 fresh fruit farmers and 55 interviews in Kenya, we develop a novel method to quantify small-scale agricultural innovations, which are categorised into two overarching types. The first, formal, emanate from meeting standard requirements; the second, informal, evolve from local contexts and are less codified. We find that GVC farmers perform more formal innovations, while local farmers perform similar levels of informal innovation to GVC farmers

New insights on Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 genome organization and benchmarks of genome assembly applications using next and third generation sequencing technologies

Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 is among the most commonly studied bacteria adapted to cold environments. Aside from its ecological relevance, P. haloplanktis has a potential use for biotechnological applications. Due to its importance, we decided to take advantage of next generation sequencing (Illumina) and third generation sequencing (PacBio and Oxford Nanopore) technologies to resequence its genome. The availability of a reference genome, obtained using whole genome shotgun sequencing, allowed us to study and compare the results obtained by the different technologies and draw useful conclusions for future de novo genome assembly projects. We found that assembly polishing using Illumina reads is needed to achieve a consensus accuracy over 99.9% when using Oxford Nanopore sequencing, but not in PacBio sequencing. However, the dependency of consensus accuracy on coverage is lower in Oxford Nanopore than in PacBio, suggesting that a cost-effective solution might be the use of low coverage Oxford Nanopore sequencing together with Illumina reads. Despite the differences in consensus accuracy, all sequencing technologies revealed the presence of a large plasmid, pMEGA, which was undiscovered until now. Among the most interesting features of pMEGA is the presence of a putative error-prone polymerase regulated through the SOS response. Aside from the characterization of the newly discovered plasmid, we confirmed the sequence of the small plasmid pMtBL and uncovered the presence of a potential partitioning system. Crucially, this study shows that the combination of next and third generation sequencing technologies give us an unprecedented opportunity to characterize our bacterial model organisms at a very detailed level

ICT and R&D as inputs or efficiency determinants? Analysing Italian manufacturing firms (2007\u20132009)

Are Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Research & Development (R&D) productive inputs or efficiency determinants? This is the topic of this paper, which analyses a sample of 2691 Italian manufacturing firms over the period 2007\u20132009. Data are from a merged EFIGE\u2013AIDA dataset. The empirical setting is based on a production function estimated through the stochastic frontier approach. ICT and R&D are used once as inputs, once as efficiency determinants. The results show that the elasticities of production with respect to ICT and R&D investments are quite high (0.08 for ICT and 0.04 for R&D) when they enter into the model only as inputs. We also documented that ICT and R&D contribute positively to explain the efficiency scores