Iris Wanzenböck

Embeddedness of European Regions in European Union-Funded Research and Development (R&D) Networks: A Spatial Econometric Perspective

Wanzenböck I., Scherngell T. and Lata R. Embeddedness of European regions in European Union-funded research and development (R&D) networks: a spatial econometric perspective, Regional Studies. This study focuses on the embeddedness of regions in research and development (R&D) networks within European Union Framework Programmes by estimating how distinct regional factors affect a regions network positioning. Graph theoretic centrality measures in terms of betweenness and eigenvector centrality are calculated at the organizational level to reflect the relevant network structure before aggregation to the region level. Panel spatial Durbin error models (SDEM) reveal that region-internal knowledge production capacities, a regions level of economic development as well as spatial spillovers are important determinants for a regions positioning in the European Union-funded R&D network, but their significance differs depending on the centrality concept.

Centrality of regions in R&D networks: a new measurement approach using the concept of bridging paths

ABSTRACT Centrality of regions in R&D networks: a new measurement approach using the concept of bridging paths. Regional Studies. This paper introduces a novel measure of regional centrality in the context of research and development (R&D) networks. It first demonstrates some substantial problems of social network analysis (SNA)-based centrality measures to cope with regional R&D networks in a meaningful way. It then proposes a new measurement approach of regional network centrality based on the concept of interregional bridging paths (indirect connections at the regional level). The paper shows that the formal definition of the regional bridging centrality measure can be expressed in terms of three simple components: the participation intensity of a region in interregional R&D collaborations; its relative outward orientation in terms of all established links; and its diversification of R&D collaborations among partner regions. The measure and its behaviour with respect to other conventional centrality measures are illustrated by its application to the European co-patent network at the NUTS-2 level.

Bridging centrality as an indicator to measure the 'bridging role' of actors in networks: An application to the European Nanotechnology co-publication network

In the recent past, we can observe growing interest in STI studies in the notion of positioning indicators, shifting emphasis to actors in the innovation process and their R&D inter-linkages with other actors. In relation to this, we suggest a new approach for assessing the positioning of actors relying on the notion of bridging centrality (BC). Based on the concept of bridging paths, i.e. a set of two links connecting three actors across three different aggregate nodes (e.g. organisations, or regions), we argue that triangulation in networks is a key issue for knowledge recombinations and the extension of an actor’s knowledge base. As bridges are most often not empirically observable at the individual level of research teams, we propose an approximated BC measure that provides a flexible framework for dealing with the aggregation problem in positioning actors. Hereby, BC is viewed as a function of an aggregate nodes (i) participation intensity in the network, (ii) its openness to other nodes (i.e. the relative outward orientation of network links), and iii) the diversification of links to other nodes. In addition, we propose a generalised version of the BC measure that accounts for different node categories. An illustrative example on the European Nanotechnology co-publication network observed at the level of organisations demonstrates the usefulness and complementary interpretation power in comparison to conventional centrality measures.

The Embeddedness of Regions in R&D Collaboration Networks of the EU Framework Programmes

This article focuses on the embeddedness of European regions in networks of R&D collaborations of the EU Framework Programmes. Network embeddedness is defined in terms of network analytic centrality measures calculated for organisations and aggregated to the regional level. The objective is to estimate how region-internal and region-external characteristics affect a region’s positioning in the thematic networks of Information and Communication Technologies, Sustainable Development and Life Sciences. In our modelling approach, we employ panel spatial Durbin error models, linking a region’s centrality in the network to knowledge production and general economic characteristics of regions, and their neighbours, respectively. We found evidence that financial R&D resources, human capital and the level of socio-economic development are important general determinants of a region’s network positioning. By linking European R&D networks with regional innovativeness, the study provides important implications for setting priorities in a regional innovation policy context.

Policy developments and measures for enhancing ServPPINs dynamics

This book is devoted to the study of public–private innovation networks in services (ServPPINs). These are a new type of innovation network which have rapidly developed in service economies. ServPPINs are collaborations between public and private service organisations, their objective being the development of new and improved services which encompass both technological and non-technological innovations.

A concept for measuring network proximity of regions in R&D networks

This paper proposes a new measure for assessing the network proximity between aggregated units, based on disaggregated information on the network distance of actors. Specific focus is on R&D network structures between regions. We introduce a weighted version of the proximity measure, related to the idea that direct and indirect linkages carry different types of knowledge. Here, first-order proximity arising from direct cross-regional linkages is to be distinguished from higher-order network proximity resulting from indirect linkages in the R&D network. We use an macroeconomic application where we analyse the productivity effects of R&D network spillovers across regions to illustrate the usefulness of a proximity measure specifically developed for aggregated units.

From market and systemic failures to an integrative approach for ServPPINs

This book is devoted to the study of public–private innovation networks in services (ServPPINs). These are a new type of innovation network which have rapidly developed in service economies. ServPPINs are collaborations between public and private service organisations, their objective being the development of new and improved services which encompass both technological and non-technological innovations.