INNO-Grips Innovation Policy Blog - Latest articles

Enhancing OPEN INNOVATION through CLUSTER and REGIONAL settings: From local bonding to international bridging

Clusters and other kinds of inter-organisational networks are useful concepts to foster innovation activities, but one should beware of over-embeddedness of such constructs. In order to avoid lock-ins of actors into local networks and an over-specialization of territories based on industrial traditions of the past, it is worthwhile for firms to enlarge the geographical and sectorial scope of their collaboration practices and consider more of-the-beaten-track partnerships. In the spirit of “the strength of weak ties”; to develop ties with actors outside of territorially delineated clusters or industrial district settings is just as important for firms than to bond with partners in their direct vicinity.

by Henar Alcalde
Assistant professor and researcher at Deusto Business School, Spain

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Henar Alcalde

Public funding schemes for innovation: lessons from disruptive innovation theory

The concept of disruptive innovation is by many regarded as one of the most important theories of innovation in the last decade. While the theory’s implications for management practices have received extensive attention, its link to innovation policy remains largely unexplored. Although more research is needed, I argue that disruptive innovation and its implications for management practices already provide some findings of relevance to policymakers. This highlights not only the potential rewards of further research, but also the potential benefits of disseminating current knowledge about disruptive innovation among innovation policymakers.

by Thor Haugness
Innovation advisor at Infosector AS, Norway

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Thor Haugness

Should we lament the delocalization of European production (and R&D) centres?

At the latest INNO-Grips workshop on disruptive innovation (Brussels, 24/1/2012), one of the issues addressed was the question: "if European firms open up an R&D centre in Asia, then it is likely that production centres will follow (or vice versa), and this should be avoided". Although in essence it is easy to agree on this statement (as a European), it is also necessary to look at the underlying logics and drivers of the eventual causalities in play, and assess whether the behaviour as such may simply follow from business rationales and can therefore hardly be disapproved. Another thing is whether the public sector can take actions to curb this behaviour.

by Bart Kamp
Head of Orkestra's strategy department, Spain

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Bart Kamp

Domestic R&D activities are the base of future chemical plants in Europe

Open innovation is a key driver for innovation as is drawing from talent worldwide. Most European global companies have research facilities in Asia and the Americas, also the chemical industry. With the chance of getting more ideas flowing into Europe, there comes a risk. If steps of the innovation value chain are transferred abroad, Europe might not be the place where the money will be earned in the end, as the production plants will be built elsewhere.

by Michael Dröscher
Professor at the University of Muenster, Germany
Manager of the cluster CHEMIE.NRW

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Michael Dröscher

Challenges in funding innovative SMEs

Small and medium sized businesses in Israel need financing in many stages of their life-cycle. The current credit shortage is a major barrier for the development of new, innovative companies – especially when trying to break into global markets. The Israeli government should therefore aim to identify these firms and consider mechanisms to improve their access to financing.

by Reut Marciano
Researcher at The Jerusalem Institute of Israel Studies, Israel

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Reut Marciano