Bjørn Harold Johnson

National Systems of Innovation: Public Policy in the Learning Society

Introduction Recently, several writers have argued that globalisation erodes national specificity and leads to long term convergence of structure, institutional set up, culture and, as a consequence, economic performance of countries. This does not correspond to observable facts nor has it been the message of this book. One of the most interesting developments of the 1980s is that despite globalisation, the distinctive features of national environments, have attracted much greater analytical attention than previously (Porter, 1990, Butry, 1991) and are seen by many authors as explaining differences among countries in competitiveness, growth and income. While the post war, ‘golden age’ growth period from the early 1950s to the early 1970s was characterised by convergence between the OECD countries (Gomulka, 1971, Cornwall, 1977, Maddison, 1982 and Abramovitz, 1989), as well as by a trend towards an increase in economic and social integration and reduction in inequalities inside nations (cf. the small but real closing of the gab between the Mezzogiornio and Northern Italy and a lowering of income distribution inequality in many OECD countries), the diverging features have been significantly more important in the two following decades. National specificity remains important and appears quite definitely to bear a relation to the capacity to produce, acquire, adopt and use technology. The erosion of the autonomy of national systems through globalisation is not synonymous with convergence and improved integration.

Cities, systems of innovation and economic development

Abstract Innovative cities are essential for the economic growth and development of countries. At the same time, however, social and environmental problems related to city growth can be serious threats to the full realisation of the socio-economic contribution that cities can make. In this paper it is argued that the notion of a ‘system of innovation’ is helpful in understanding the factors that shape the processes of innovation and that determine the extent to which problems related to city growth may be solved. It is also argued that it is in cities, especially big cities, that the power of innovation to promote economic growth and development will be tested and that, in this context, institutional innovation and political innovation as compared to technical innovation are of special importance.

An NSI in Transition? Denmark

This major book presents case studies of ten small country national systems of innovation (NSIs) in Europe and Asia, namely, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. These cases have been carefully selected as examples of success within the context of globalization and as ‘new economies’ where competition is increasingly based on innovation.

Low-Carbon Innovation and Development

In this review we use the concept of learning, innovation, and competence-building systems (LICS) as an analytical tool and as a framework for defining low-carbon policies and development strategies. Improved systems of innovation and competence building are essential to low-carbon development. The concept is a dynamic and interactive perspective in which technologies and institutions co-evolve and it indicates that policies need to operate on both the demand and the supply side. The key issues addressed are, firstly, how the notion of LICS can help us understand the challenges of low-carbon development (LCD), and secondly, a discussion of the design of support structures for the building of LICS that contribute to low-carbon development.

Low-carbon development and inclusive innovation systems

Low-carbon development (LCD) is a process of structural change of unprecedented magnitude that includes radical changes in technology, institutions, values and policies. It has been proposed that inclusive institutions are crucial for enabling structural change by facilitating different processes of creative destruction. There are reasons to believe that inclusion is also crucial for achieving LCD. We explore why and how social inclusion may support LCD. In so doing, we bridge a gap between research on social inclusion and innovation, on the one hand, and LCD, on the other. We combine the ideas of systems of innovation and inclusive institutions to propose a new conceptualization of inclusive innovation systems, and we propose six mechanisms through which inclusion enables development. We conclude that the world must attempt to establish an inclusive and low-carbon system of innovation at the global level to achieve LCD.

Cities as development drivers: from waste problems to energy recovery and climate change mitigation

There is a strong connection between economic growth and development of cities. Economic growth tends to stimulate city growth, and city economies have often shaped innovative environments that in turn support economic growth. Simultaneously, social and environmental problems related to city growth can be serious threats to the realization of the socio-economic contributions that cities can make. However, as a result of considerable diversity of competences combined with interactive learning and innovation, cities may also solve these problems. The ‘urban order’ may form a platform for innovative problem solving and potential spill-over effects, which may stimulate further economic growth and development. This paper discusses how waste problems of cities can be transformed to become part of new, more sustainable solutions. Two cases are explored: Aalborg in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden. It is shown that the cities have the potential to significantly contribute to a more sustainable development through increased material recycling and energy recovery. Waste prevention may increase this potential. For example, instead of constituting 3% of the total greenhouse gas emission problem, it seems possible for modern European cities to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction by 15% through up to date technology and integrated waste management systems for material and energy recovery. Going from being part of the problem to providing solutions; however, is not an easy endeavour. It requires political will and leadership, supportive regulatory frameworks, realistic timetables/roadmaps, and a diverse set of stakeholders that can provide the right creative and innovative mix to make it possible.

The Economic Geography of Innovation: National systems of production, innovation, and competence building

The authors have worked on innovation systems for more than a decade. This paper is an attempt to take stock. In Section 2, we reflect upon the emergence and fairly rapid diffusion of the concept ‘national system of innovation’ as well as related concepts. In Section 3, we describe how the Aalborg-version of the concept evolved by a combination of ideas that moved from production structure towards including all elements and relationships contributing to innovation and competence building. In Section 4, we discuss the challenges involved both in a theoretical deepening of a fairly narrow version of the concept and in the movement toward the broader approach and in adapting the concept for the analysis of poor countries.

Comparing National Systems of Innovation: The Case of Finland, Denmark and Sweden

One way to get a better understanding of innovation processes in a specific country might be to carry out a systematic comparison with other countries. In this way the international diversity of modes and methods of innovation might be used to enhance the comprehension of national innovation possibilities. The concept of ‘national systems of innovation’ might be useful as a tool in such comparative studies.

Partnerships and Sustainable Regional Innovation Systems: Special Roles for Universities?

The notion of Public–Private Partnerships (P3) is ambiguous. To date, however, there has been little emphasis on universities in this connection, and their roles (if any) are still somewhat unclear. The question we ask, therefore, is: What is or could be the role of universities in P3s? In this chapter, the first part is dedicated to the discussion and clarification of the concept of public–private partnerships. The role of universities if and when actively participating in ‘life outside the ivory tower’ is addressed. These partnerships are also discussed in a regional context. With the point of departure in innovation theory, we combine ‘sustainable development’ with the Regional System of Innovation approach to propose a new concept – Sustainable Regional Innovation System – in which regional initiatives such as Public–Private–(Academic) Partnerships play an integrated role, not least in the context of ‘learning and innovation for sustainable development’. Two cases are presented to underline the importance of what is signified as Public–Private–Academic Partnerships (PPAP); i.e., partnerships, where universities are given – or take on themselves – a specific role. In such partnerships, we argue, mediation is a major function of universities, including both the provision of new knowledge and the conciliation of opposing views, and universities thus act as catalytic and institutionalizing entities.

Review Essay : Institutional Economics: What's That?

What is it that keeps the many people together in a society’? Why doesn’t society fall to pieces as a result of the many conflicting and different interests’? How can an extended division of labour exist, when there is no comprehensive plan to coordinate the many specialized activities’? Since the time of Adam Smith ( 1723-1790), mainstream economics has answered these questions by alluding to the market mechanism. Competitive markets allocate resources, distribute incomes and transform individual actions of self-interest into