On the Trail of Core–periphery Patterns in Innovation Networks: Measurements and New Empirical Findings from the German Laser Industry
Wilfried Ehrenfeld, Toralf Pusch, Muhamed Kudic
Annals of Regional Science,
Nr. 1,
2015
Abstract
It has been frequently argued that a firm’s location in the core of an industry’s innovation network improves its ability to access information and absorb technological knowledge. The literature has still widely neglected the role of peripheral network positions for innovation processes. In addition to this, little is known about the determinants affecting a peripheral actors’ ability to reach the core. To shed some light on these issues, we have employed a unique longitudinal dataset encompassing the entire population of German laser source manufacturers (LSMs) and laser-related public research organizations (PROs) over a period of more than two decades. The aim of our paper is threefold. First, we analyze the emergence of core–periphery (CP) patterns in the German laser industry. Then, we explore the paths on which LSMs and PROs move from isolated positions toward the core. Finally, we employ non-parametric event history techniques to analyze the extent to which organizational and geographical determinates affect the propensity and timing of network core entries. Our results indicate the emergence and solidification of CP patterns at the overall network level. We also found that the paths on which organizations traverse through the network are characterized by high levels of heterogeneity and volatility. The transition from peripheral to core positions is impacted by organizational characteristics, while an organization’s geographical location does not play a significant role.
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Taking the First Step - What Determines German Laser Source Manufacturers' Entry into Innovation Networks?
Jutta Günther, Muhamed Kudic, Andreas Pyka
International Journal of Innovation Management,
Nr. 5,
2015
Abstract
Early access to technological knowledge embodied in the industry’s innovation network can provide an important competitive advantage to firms. While the literature provides much evidence on the positive effects of innovation networks on firms’ performance, not much is known about the determinants of firms’ initial entry into such networks. We analyze firms’ timing and propensity to enter the industry’s innovation network. More precisely, we seek to shed some light on the factors affecting the duration between firm founding and its first cooperation event. In doing so, we apply a unique longitudinal event history dataset based on the full population of German laser source manufacturers. Innovation network data stem from official databases providing detailed information on the organizations involved, subject of joint research and development (R&D) efforts as well as start and end times for all publically funded R&D projects between 1990 and 2010. Estimation results from a non-parametric event history model indicate that micro firms enter the network later than small-sized or large firms. An in-depth analysis of the size effects for medium-sized firms provides some unexpected findings. The choice of cooperation type makes no significant difference for the firms’ timing to enter the network. Finally, the analysis of geographical determinants shows that cluster membership can, but do not necessarily, affect a firm’s timing to cooperate.
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Does Going Public Affect Innovation?
Shai B. Bernstein
Journal of Finance,
Nr. 4,
2015
Abstract
This paper investigates the effects of going public on innovation by comparing the innovation activity of firms that go public with firms that withdraw their initial public offering (IPO) filing and remain private. NASDAQ fluctuations during the book-building phase are used as an instrument for IPO completion. Using patent-based metrics, I find that the quality of internal innovation declines following the IPO, and firms experience both an exodus of skilled inventors and a decline in the productivity of the remaining inventors. However, public firms attract new human capital and acquire external innovation. The analysis reveals that going public changes firms' strategies in pursuing innovation.
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The Schumpeterian Growth Paradigm
Philippe Aghion, Ufuk Akcigit, Peter Howitt
Annual Review of Economics,
2015
Abstract
In this review, we argue that the Schumpeterian growth paradigm, which models growth as resulting from innovations involving creative destruction, sheds light on several aspects of the growth process that cannot be properly addressed by alternative theories. We focus on three important aspects for which Schumpeterian growth theory delivers predictions that distinguish it from other growth models, namely, (a) the role of competition and market structure, (b) firm dynamics, and (c) the relationship between growth and development.
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Netzwerke zwischen Hochschulen und Wirtschaft: Ein Mehrebenenansatz
Mirko Titze, Wilfried Ehrenfeld, Matthias Piontek, Gunnar Pippel
Schrumpfende Regionen - dynamische Hochschulen: Hochschulstrategien im demografischen Wandel,
2015
Abstract
Innovationen sind ein zentraler Treiber für das Wachstum von Unternehmen und Regionen. Es gibt daher eine breite Literatur, welche versucht, die Determinanten der Innovationsfähigkeit zu identifizieren. Kooperationen stellen einen wichtigen Faktor im Bereich Forschung und Entwicklung dar, da Verflechtungen den Fluss von Wissen zwischen den beteiligten Akteuren, wie beispielsweise Hochschulen und Unternehmen, unterstützen. Um derartige Verflechtungen abzubilden, haben sich in der Fachliteratur verschiedene Ansätze durchgesetzt. So können beispielsweise Informationen über Ko-Publikationen, Ko-Patente oder geförderte FuE-Vorhaben genutzt werden. Die verschiedenen Ansätze haben jedoch ihre individuellen Stärken und Schwächen. Zudem bilden sie jeweils verschiedene Facetten der Kooperation im Bereich Forschung und Entwicklung ab. Dieser Beitrag setzt an dieser Problematik an, indem er anhand von sechs Fallregionen einen Mehrebenenansatz vorstellt, welcher die genannten Ebenen von Kooperation zusammenführt. Dies ermöglicht, ein umfassendes Bild der Vernetzung in den Fallregionen zu erhalten.
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Wirtschaftspolitische Herausforderungen für Sachsen-Anhalt: Toleranz, Talente und Technologie
Oliver Holtemöller
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
Nr. 3,
2015
Abstract
Das Wirtschaftswachstum in Sachsen-Anhalt war in den vergangenen Jahren schwach. Der wichtigste Erklärungsfaktor ist die demographische Entwicklung; die Alterung und die Schrumpfung der Bevölkerung dämpfen die Anzahl der Erwerbstätigen. Es gibt eine Reihe von ökonomischen Ansatzpunkten für die Verbesserung der wirtschaftlichen Perspektiven. Dazu ist es erforderlich, die Ursachen der schwachen Entwicklung zu analysieren und ursachengerechte Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der wirtschaftlichen Leistungsfähigkeit zu ergreifen. Die größten Chancen bieten Investitionen in die Bildung, mehr Internationalität sowie die Förderung von Forschung und Innovation.
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30.04.2015 • 14/2015
Warum Sachsen-Anhalt das Wachstums-Schlusslicht ist
Die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Sachsen-Anhalt ist schwach. Eine Ursache liegt in der Demographie, die gegeben ist. Daneben gibt es drei Gründe, auf die das Land Einfluss hat: 1) zu wenig Investitionen in Bildung und Forschung, 2) zu wenig Internationalität und 3) zu wenig Innovation.
Oliver Holtemöller
Pressemitteilung herunterladen
R&D Collaboration for Environmental Innovation
Gunnar Pippel
International Journal of Innovation Management,
Nr. 1,
2015
Abstract
FuE-Kooperationen spielen eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Schaffung von Umweltinnovationen. Allerdings zeigt uns die Literatur, dass FuE-Kooperationen nicht immer vorteilhaft sind. Daher ist eine differenziertere Betrachtungsweise des Einflusses von FuE-Kooperationen auf die Fähigkeit von Unternehmen, Umweltinnovationen hervorzubringen, notwendig. Das Papier untersucht diesen Zusammenhang und differenziert dabei nach verschiedenen Typen von Kooperationspartnern wie Kunden, Lieferanten, Universitäten, staatlichen Forschungseinrichtungen, Konkurrenten, Beratern und anderen Firmen innerhalb der gleichen Firmengruppe. Zudem wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob Diversität von Kooperationspartnern einen Einfluss auf die Umweltinnovationsfähigkeit von Unternehmen hat. Dabei werden Daten von 2337 deutschen Unternehmen für eine Regressionsanalyse verwendet. Deutlich wird, dass FuE-Kooperationen mit Kunden, Lieferanten, Universitäten, staatlichen Forschungseinrichtungen, Beratern und anderen Firmen innerhalb der gleichen Firmengruppe einen signifikant positiven Einfluss auf die Umweltinnovationsfähigkeit haben. FuE-Kooperationen mit Konkurrenten haben keinen signifikanten Einfluss. Die Diversität von FuE-Kooperationspartnern hat ebenfalls einen signifikant positiven Einfluss auf die Umweltinnovationsfähigkeit.
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Isolation and Innovation – Two Contradictory Concepts? Explorative Findings from the German Laser Industry
Wilfried Ehrenfeld, T. Pusch, Muhamed Kudic
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 1,
2015
Abstract
We apply a network perspective and study the emergence of core-periphery (CP) structures in innovation networks to shed some light on the relationship between isolation and innovation. It has been frequently argued that a firm’s location in a densely interconnected network area improves its ability to access information and absorb technological knowledge. This, in turn, enables a firm to generate new products and services at a higher rate compared to less integrated competitors. However, the importance of peripheral positions for innovation processes is still a widely neglected issue in literature. Isolation may provide unique conditions that induce innovations which otherwise may never have been invented. Such innovations have the potential to lay the ground for a firm’s pathway towards the network core, where the industry’s established technological knowledge is assumed to be located.
The aim of our paper is twofold. Firstly, we propose a new CP indicator and apply it to analyze the emergence of CP patterns in the German laser industry. We employ publicly funded Research and Development (R&D) cooperation project data over a period of more than two decades. Secondly, we explore the paths on which firms move from isolated positions towards the core (and vice versa). Our exploratory results open up a number of new research questions at the intersection between geography, economics and network research.
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Network Positioning, Co-Location or Both?
Muhamed Kudic
Innovation Networks in the German Laser Industry. Springer Cham,
2015
Abstract
Previous research indicates that firm innovativeness can either be determined by a firm’s position within the network dimension or by its position within the geographical dimension. Integrative studies addressing both distinct and combined proximity effects remains rare (cf. Whittington et al. 2009). Thus, we address in this Chapter the following research question: Are firm-level innovation outcomes positively or negatively related to network positioning effects, geographical co-location effects or combined proximity effects; and if the latter case is true, are the combined effects substitutional or complementary in nature? Panel data count models with fixed and random effects were used to analyze a firm’s innovative performance as measured by patent application counts. This last empirical analysis is organized as follows: We start with a short introduction in Sect. 12.1. Next, we provide a brief discussion of theoretical background in Sect. 12.2. In Sect. 12.3 we introduce our conceptual framework and derive our hypotheses. In Sect. 12.4 we introduce the data and methods used. Next, we outline the estimation strategy and report our empirical results in Sect. 12.5. Finally, we discuss our findings and conclude with a number of critical remarks in Sect. 12.6.
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