Knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia: The emergence of an epistemic landscape

Knowledge clusters are central places within an epistemic landscape, i.e. in a wider structure of knowledge production and dissemination. They have the organisational capability to drive innovations and create new industries. Examples of such organisations in knowledge clusters are universities and colleges, research institutions, think tanks, government research agencies and knowledge-intensive firms with their respective knowledge workers. The following paper will look at Malaysia and its path towards a Knowledge-based economy. We first describe the development strategy of the Malaysian government which has emphasized cluster formation as one of its prime targets. We then provide evidence of the current state of knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia and try to answer the following questions. If the formation of a knowledge cluster (especially in the ICT and multimedia industry) has been the government policy, what has been the result? Has Malaysia developed an epistemic landscape of knowledge clusters? Has the main knowledge cluster really materialised in and around Cyberjaya in the MSC Malaysia? Data collected from websites, directories, government publications and expert interviews have enabled us to construct the epistemic landscape of Peninsular Malaysia. Several knowledge clusters of a high density of knowledge producing institutions and their knowledge workers have been identified and described. The analysis of the knowledge output, measured in terms of scientific publications, patents and trademarks show that existing knowledge clusters have, indeed, been productive as predicted by cluster theory. On the other hand government designed development corridors do not always coincide with the distribution of knowledge assets. The analysis of our data pertaining to Cyberjaya, the MSC Malaysia and the “corridors” needs to be developed further to produce more robust results.Malaysia; Cyberjaya; knowledge and development; knowledge-based economy (KBE); knowledge clusters; knowledge corridors; epistemic landscape; development strategy

Potenziale quantitativer Landschaftsanalysen als Monitoring-Instrument im Gebietsnaturschutz : Untersuchungen am Beispiel des Biosphärenreservats Rhön

Im Kontext des Monitorings im Gebietsnaturschutz treten bei der Quantifizierung von Land-schaftsveränderungen auf Basis kategorialer Daten unterschiedliche methodische und inhalt-liche Probleme auf, die in der Arbeit am Beispiel des Biosphärenreservats Rhön untersucht werden. Die Ziele der Arbeit sind (1) die Untersuchung methodischer Aspekte in der vektorbasierten Landschaftsveränderungs- und Landschaftsstrukturanalyse, (2) die Präzi¬sierung des Monitoring-Terminus sowie die Entwicklung eines indikator- und eines prozess¬basierten Monitoring-Instruments für die spezifische Kulturlandschaft des Biosphären¬reservats Rhön, welche einen Vergleich der beiden Ansätze und Aussagen über die Zielerreichung des Schutzgebiets ermöglichen, und (3) die Ableitung von Potenzialen quan¬titativer Landschaftsanalysen für das Konzept der Ökosystemleistungen und den angewandten Gebietsnaturschutz, insbesondere bezogen auf mögliche Synergieeffekte mit dem Kulturlandschaftsschutz. Den empirischen Untersuchungen wird eine quantitative Literaturanalyse zu Definitionen und methodischen Ansätzen im Landschaftsmonitoring vorangestellt. Im Ergebnis wird unter Monitoring die Sammlung und Analyse von Daten in mindestens zwei Zeitabschnitten an einem bestimmten Ort verstanden, die Rückschlüsse auf Veränderungen der Landschaft und ihrer Kompartimente erlauben, wodurch es möglich wird, das Erreichen vordefinierter Ziele zu über-prüfen und zu bewerten. Auf Basis von Biotop- und Nutzungstypenkartierungen sowie ATKIS-Daten kann gezeigt werden, dass übergeordnete Landnutzungs- und Landbedeckungskategorien über einen Zeitraum von fast 25 Jahren eine hohe Persistenz im Untersuchungsgebiet aufweisen. Die Dynamik der kleinteiligen Kulturlandschaft des Untersuchungsgebietes kann erst mit zunehmenden Detaillierungsgrad der Klassifikation abgebildet werden. Die unter¬schiedlichen Detailtiefen der Klassifikationen haben Einfluss auf die Berechnung und die Ergebnisse der quantitativen Landschaftsanalysen. Um die Dynamik der Landschaft zu erfassen, werden ein indikator¬basiertes und ein prozessbasiertes Monitoring entwickelt. Für das indikatorbasierte Monitoring sind vier Indikatoren (Nutzungsintensität, stark gefährdete Biotope, Grünlanderhalt und Landschaftsstrukturvielfalt durch Kleinstrukturen) erstellt worden. Mit diesem Verfahren kann gezeigt werden, dass auf der überwiegenden Fläche die Ziele umgesetzt werden konnten. Konträr zur Zielerreichung sind lediglich eine leichte Abnahme der Grünlandareale und der stark gefährdeten Biotope in der Hohen Rhön bis zum Jahr 2006. Für den prozessbasierten Ansatz werden fünf Prozesse (In¬tensivierung, Extensivierung, Grünlanderhalt, Diversifizierung und Fragmentierung) definiert. Die Ergebnisse werden, u. a. in Abgleich mit den Entwicklungen der Agrarpolitik, ausführlich diskutiert. Abschließend wird das Potenzial quantitativer Landschaftsanalysen für das Konzept der Ökosystem¬leistungen sowie für den angewandten Natur- und Kulturlandschaftsschutz reflektiert. Basierend auf den vorliegenden Ergebnissen und weiteren wissenschaftlichen Publikationen kann gezeigt werden, dass quantitative Landschaftsanalysen eine hohe Relevanz als Monitoring-Instrument im angewandten Natur- und Kulturlandschaftsschutz besitzen.Regarding the monitoring of nature conservation areas, several methodical and content-related difficulties emerge if the quantification of landscape change is based on categorical data. These difficulties are examined using the example of the biosphere reserve Rhön. The objectives of the present study are: (1) The investigation of methodical aspects of landscape change and landscape structure analyses based on digital vector based datasets. (2) The clarification of the term monitoring as well as the development of an indicator based and a process based monitoring approach to assess the characteristic cultural landscape of the biosphere reserve Rhön. The two approaches facilitate a comparison of the methodical procedures as well as the evaluation of the conservation achievements. And (3) the consideration of capabilities of quantitative landscape analyses in the context of ecosystem services as well as regarding applied nature conservation and cultural landscape protection. Preceding the empirical investigations, a quantitative literature analysis on the definitions and methodical approaches regarding landscape monitoring is performed. As a result, in the present case monitoring is defined as the compilation and analyses of data of at least two time steps for a specific area allowing to draw conclusions on landscape changes so that the evaluation of predefined objectives of landscape development is possible. The analysis of biotope types and land use mappings and ATKIS data shows that main land use and land cover classes show high persistence over a time period of almost 25 years. With increasing thematic resolution of the classification, it is possible to capture the dynamics of the diverse cultural landscape of the study area. The different levels of detail of the classifications affect the calculation and the results of quantitative landscape analyses. In order to assess the dynamics of the landscape, two monitoring approaches are developed: an indicator based and a process based monitoring approach. The indicator based approach consists of four indicators: intensity of land use, nationwide endangered biotopes, grassland conservation and structural diversity of landscape elements. This approach suggests that the objectives are achieved for most of the areas. Contrary to the development objectives is a slight decrease of grassland areas and endangered biotopes in the High Rhön region until 2006. Regarding the process based approach five processes are defined: intensification, extensification, grassland conservation, diversification and fragmentation. The discussion of the results includes the consideration of (European) agricultural policy impacts. Finally, the capability of quantitative landscape analysis is assessed regarding the concept of ecosystem services and regarding applied nature conservation and cultural landscape protection. Based on the present results and recent scientific publications, it is concluded that quantitative landscape analyses are an important monitoring tool for nature conservation and cultural landscape protection

Knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia: The emergence of an epistemic landscape

Knowledge clusters are central places within an epistemic landscape, i.e. in a wider structure of knowledge production and dissemination. They have the organisational capability to drive innovations and create new industries. Examples of such organisations in knowledge clusters are universities and colleges, research institutions, think tanks, government research agencies and knowledge-intensive firms with their respective knowledge workers. The following paper will look at Malaysia and its path towards a Knowledge-based economy. We first describe the development strategy of the Malaysian government which has emphasized cluster formation as one of its prime targets. We then provide evidence of the current state of knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia and try to answer the following questions. If the formation of a knowledge cluster (especially in the ICT and multimedia industry) has been the government policy, what has been the result? Has Malaysia developed an epistemic landscape of knowledge clusters? Has the main knowledge cluster really materialised in and around Cyberjaya in the MSC Malaysia? Data collected from websites, directories, government publications and expert interviews have enabled us to construct the epistemic landscape of Peninsular Malaysia. Several knowledge clusters of a high density of knowledge producing institutions and their knowledge workers have been identified and described. The analysis of the knowledge output, measured in terms of scientific publications, patents and trademarks show that existing knowledge clusters have, indeed, been productive as predicted by cluster theory. On the other hand government designed development corridors do not always coincide with the distribution of knowledge assets. The analysis of our data pertaining to Cyberjaya, the MSC Malaysia and the “corridors” needs to be developed further to produce more robust results. Keywords

Knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia: The emergence of an epistemic landscape

Knowledge clusters are central places within an epistemic landscape, i.e. in a wider structure of knowledge production and dissemination. They have the organisational capability to drive innovations and create new industries. Examples of such organisations in knowledge clusters are universities and colleges, research institutions, think tanks, government research agencies and knowledge-intensive firms with their respective knowledge workers. The following paper will look at Malaysia and its path towards a Knowledge-based economy. We first describe the development strategy of the Malaysian government which has emphasized cluster formation as one of its prime targets. We then provide evidence of the current state of knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia and try to answer the following questions. If the formation of a knowledge cluster (especially in the ICT and multimedia industry) has been the government policy, what has been the result? Has Malaysia developed an epistemic landscape of knowledge clusters? Has the main knowledge cluster really materialised in and around Cyberjaya in the MSC Malaysia? Data collected from websites, directories, government publications and expert interviews have enabled us to construct the epistemic landscape of Peninsular Malaysia. Several knowledge clusters of a high density of knowledge producing institutions and their knowledge workers have been identified and described. The analysis of the knowledge output, measured in terms of scientific publications, patents and trademarks show that existing knowledge clusters have, indeed, been productive as predicted by cluster theory. On the other hand government designed development corridors do not always coincide with the distribution of knowledge assets. The analysis of our data pertaining to Cyberjaya, the MSC Malaysia and the “corridors” needs to be developed further to produce more robust results. Keywords