| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Lundequist, Per, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
-
Promoting localized excellence in research and innovation : mapping contemporary policy trends in Sweden
- 2008
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- High-tech and science-based industries have been hyped as a key part of the knowledge economy and governments have acknowledged research and innovation as a top priority for promoting competitive advantage. A prominent trend in recent years in many European countries and beyond has been to direct research funding towards so-called Centres of Excellences (CoE): micro-concentrations of high-skilled workers and socially networked knowledge workers. By exploring recent trends in innovation policies in the case of Sweden, and setting up a comprehensive database including data from 110 granted CoE-initiative applications, a detailed picture is presented focusing on key policy actors, program design, prioritised sectors, and characteristics of leading researchers. Drawing on a theoretical model of localised excellence, we suggest that the initiatives can be mapped and further analysed along three dimensions: research; innovation; and value creation. We conclude by briefly discussing methodological issues concerning the possibilities and challenges of using this kind of empirical material for analysing localized knowledge production in the knowledge-based economy. Finally, the current policy rhetoric emphasising the importance of cluster- and CoE-initiatives for promoting economic growth is critically discussed.
|
|
| 3. |
- Lundequist, Per, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
-
Regionalizing 'Mode 2'? : The adoption of Centres of Excellence in Swedish resarch policy
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series B, Human Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3684 .- 1468-0467. ; 92B:3, s. 263-279
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article contributes to the ongoing debate on the role of university research for innovation and economic growth, a debate highly influenced by concepts such as Mode 2 and regional innovation systems and clusters. A prominent trend in many EU and OECD countries is to direct research funding towards so-called Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in order to stimulate the industrial output of scientific research. The implementation of the CoE approach is viewed as an attempt to bridge research and innovation policy. By using Sweden as an example and providing an overview and critical discussion concerning Swedish research policy during the period 2001 to 2007 we show that the rhetoric within research policy has changed and become increasingly intertwined with innovation policy. In practice, however, this is not as evident. The study draws on (a) an analysis of policy literature pointing out regulatory and organizational changes concerning the increasing emphasis on linking research to competitive industrial milieus, and (b) a comprehensive database including 110 CoEs, presenting a detailed picture of university-industry collaboration, cross-disciplinarity, and prioritized sectors. We fiind that the CoEs account for a relatively small share of government funding, but may however have a strengthening impact on particular research milieus and industries, especially in the life sciences. Additionally, although contemporary policy rhetoric appears to highlight steering funding to geographically-concentrated milieus, thereby linking leading university research to regional industrial clusters, this has only been manifested in a few cases – notably in the Vinnväxt programme run by Vinnova, the national agency promoting innovation systems.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Lundequist, Per, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
-
Putting ‘Mode 2’ into practice? : Commercialising university research and changing institutional boundaries: evidence from Sweden
- 2008
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This paper explores research and innovation policies supporting university-industry collaborative programmes. It is argued in the paper that the policy rationale behind the recent emphasis on such programmes originates in, and is legitimised by, conceptual developments in the social sciences advocating a systems perspective. Influential concepts representing this system perspective are ‘mode 2’, triple helix and regional clusters. Though being seriously criticized by academics for its conceptual flaws and limited empirical validation, these concepts have rapidly been transferred into policy practice by many governments in the EU and OECD. The purpose of the paper is to show and critically discuss how a systems perspective within national research and innovation policy is formulated, negotiated and, finally, implemented in a regional biotech commercialization project in Sweden, called Uppsala Bio-X. Three main questions are addressed in the paper. To what extent do research and innovation policies at national and regional levels reflect key features of recently developed system approaches in the social sciences? How have key actors influenced strategies for implementing Uppsala Bio-X? What effects, both quantifiable and non-quantifiable, can be traced? It is concluded that (i) national and regional research and innovation policy display central elements of recent conceptual development in the social sciences; (ii) actors advocating industry involvement have gradually increased their influence; (iii) researchers participating in the project examined in the study appear to support a gradual change towards commercial ends; (iv) beside usually expected effects (publications, patents, new jobs) of the project, the effects also include changed perception amongst the university researchers as well as (v) substantial unexpected side-effects that concern development of existing local biotech firms and the establishment of interdisciplinary research teams. As such, the paper contributes to the understanding both of impacts of policy programmes as well as of institutional changes that redefine the boundaries between universities and firms.
|
|
