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2009 | Buch

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Innovation System Frontiers

Cluster Networks and Global Value

verfasst von: Brian Wixted

Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Buchreihe : Advances in Spatial Science

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

Recent economic transformations in the world economy are progressing in two divergent directions – international production fragmentation and industrial agglomeration. Based on extensive data analysis and using models of interdependencies between key economies, this book analyses innovation systems that cross national borders. It is shown that technological complexity is an important factor in the formation of highly specific production networks, and why, for a number of production systems, fragmentation and clustering are two sides of the same coin. By outlining the picture of a world economy structured around networks of clusters and joined together through systems of linkages of components, people and knowledge flows, the author helps to promote a better understanding of recent economic transformations.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

‘Although there is a large literature on the internationalization of economic activity (including R&D) at the corporate level, there are relatively few studies of the degree of internationalization of innovation systems’ (Carlsson 2006, p. 64).

Brian Wixted

Chapter 2. Systemic Innovation and Nation States

Abstract

The decade of the 1980s was one where Japanese industrial competitiveness in a number of technology based industries notably computers, consumer electronics and motor vehicles came to the fore. Dosi et al. (1990) considered this example of Japanese development as the only case of economic catch-up from less developed to advanced economy status in the post World War II era. Throughout this catch-up period, corporations based in Japan expanded their technological capabilities and progressively introduced new processes and products that were at the leading edge in many industries.

Brian Wixted

Chapter 3. Innovative Regions, Clusters and Milieux

Abstract

In Chap. 2, it was shown that some characteristics of nations have been important for determining the level of knowledge generation and technological innovation. The processes of knowledge accumulation, for example, are influential in the co-evolution of the scientific and industrial specialisations of countries. Although, the level of innovative effort of countries is not pre-determined, it does seem that trajectories once established are hard to alter relative to that of other countries. An analytical perspective that adopts as its starting point the nation state, can be shown to provide valuable insights as to why particular pieces of geography succeed more than others at generating, acquiring and utilising knowledge. However, Chap. 2 also revealed that this national approach to the study of innovation has only partially succeeded in developing tools that can analyse the changes occurring in the geography of global production (see for example Friedman 2000). The emphasis on endogenous capability and the comparative benchmarking approach inherent in NIS analysis also highlights the need to build a multi-spatial innovation framework that can integrate the continuing benefits of place and the growing levels of trans-border production.

Brian Wixted

Chapter 4. Beyond Borders: Trade and Networks

Abstract

In Chaps. 2 and 3 it was shown why neo-Schumpeterian researchers focusing on the operations of systems of innovation have emphasised both the nationally conditioned factors fostering innovation and those elements of the processes of innovation that drive proximity dynamics.

It was also shown however, that the innovation literature has been overwhelmingly captured by a paradigm of endogenous capability. Analysis of the literature reveals that it undervalues the significance of the external environment by largely ignoring the scale of extra-cluster linkages and, in particular, being disinterested in the spatial structure of interdependencies, an argument also made by Bunnell and Coe (2001) although they go little further. This chapter explores how a number of different research traditions have investigated both trans-border activities and multi-spatial systems, whether they are connected across intra-national regions or countries. This analysis facilitates a presentation of the linkage aspects of the linked clustering framework suggested here. In doing so, this chapter traverses some diverse academic traditions. Bilateral trade analysis (both neoclassical and neo-Schumpeterian) is considered, especially noting the empirical evidence on the role of international borders and regional boundaries in strongly influencing the strength of trade. The evidence for international inter-connectedness is considered from a broad spectrum of analytical perspectives, including trade theory, global production networks, global commodity chains, global and world cities, and production fragmentation.

Brian Wixted

Chapter 5. Measuring Inter-Cluster Interdependencies

Abstract

The goal of this project is to contribute to the understanding of the ways separate innovation systems interact within a multi-spatial economic environment. To this point, this has been done through an extensive overarching review of the literature vis-à-vis national innovation systems and sub-national innovation systems. It has also required the need for a specific focus within such a broad research agenda. That focus has been confined here to the role and scale but particularly the spatial structure of cross-border interdependencies. This extends the relationship based perspective that contends that knowledge flows within a local or national environment have fostered clustering and innovation, to those interdependencies that stretch across borders. Ideally, to analyse the latter type of linkages, a researcher would be able to draw upon a wealth of data collected by statistical agencies on the sources of product component being traded across international and regional borders. There would also be ongoing research into the nature of global innovation networks. Unfortunately, the former is hard to determine even for international trade (see Wixted et al. 2006), let alone internationalised innovation (see, e.g. DeBresson et al. 1998).

Brian Wixted

Chapter 6. Clustering Internationalisation

Abstract

It has been shown already that the systems of innovation research agenda at whatever scale of cluster or nations, has been defined, predominantly, within national borders. The research has emphasised the endogenous and proximity based characteristics of systemic innovation. Chapter 5 suggested that the structure of multi-spatial systems of innovation could be investigated though inter-country input-output modelling.

The next four chapters present a series of different perspectives on the scale, and spatial structure of inter-regional interdependencies. This is achieved through specifically examining the specialisation of locations, globalised products and the strong trade linkages between nations.

Brian Wixted

Chapter 7. Cluster Complexes: Auto Production

Abstract

The auto industry is often seemingly perceived by many governments as something of a growth engine and significant politically. Presumably, this is due to its linkages to many other industries including petroleum, metals, and electronics, because of its large scale employment and because of its connection to national consumer culture (see, e.g. Paterson 2000). As such, there is a huge literature on the international industrial structure and the technological systems of transport related industries for many countries. Global auto production has been analysed from many different angles and often by authors with an intimate knowledge of the activities in individual countries or companies. A key theme of this literature has been the continuing international re-organisation (see Dicken 2003a, b) of the industry and technology.

Brian Wixted

Chapter 8. Cluster Complexes: Civil Aerospace

Abstract

To manage the required scale, risks and specialisation, the system integrators are now concentrated with just four players in civil aerospace, but with a developed internationalised production system. While design is a core competency of system integrators such as the assemblers and first tier suppliers, increasingly some development costs are pushed out to suppliers (see Nolan et al. 2007). Increasingly the Primes are turning to loosely coupled networks of suppliers and the modularisation of production to enable them to take advantage of fast moving areas of science and technology while maintaining effort in slower moving areas (see Brusoni et al., 2001).

Brian Wixted

Chapter 9. Cluster Complexes: Electronics and ICT

Abstract

A key argument of the current book has been that at a macro level, clusters have a system of interdependencies just as businesses form local clusters through their business networks. From this position, the role, scale and spatial structure of interdependencies is of central interest.

Brian Wixted

Chapter 10. Conclusions on the Architecture of Economies

Abstract

The neo-Schumpeterian research agenda has a wide variety of foci, but during the 1990s it became increasingly dominated by a geographic emphasis on systems of innovation, which are typically described as national or sub-national (clusters and regions). The attitude of Freeman (2002, p. 209) in choosing to concentrate ‘on developments at the national level in the belief that the major phenomena of forging ahead, catch-up and falling behind in nineteenth and the twentieth centuries can most plausibly be explained in terms of national systems’ appears to be representative of the attitude. The sub-national systems perspective, although focusing on a different spatial scale, also characteristically terminates with national borders. At both the national and sub-nation systems level, the interest is in studying the history of places, looking for endogenous regional factors of success and policy options for the future.

Brian Wixted

Backmatter

Titel: Innovation System Frontiers
verfasst von: Brian Wixted
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-540-92786-0
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-92785-3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-92786-0