Lorenzo Cassi

RESEARCH NETWORKS AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION IN EUROPEAN REGIONS

This paper concentrates on the role of research network infrastructure in fostering the dissemination of innovation-related knowledge. It examines the structure of collaborative networks and of knowledge transfer between research, innovation and deployment activities in the field of information and communication technology for the European Union as a whole and for several European regions. Research networks complement diffusion networks by providing additional links and by increasing the number of the organisations involved in sharing and exchanging knowledge. Two types of actors are key players in these networks: hubs and gatekeepers. Hubs maintain the bulk of ties in the networks also helping the smaller and more isolated members remain connected. Gatekeepers bridge research and diffusion networks. Such organisations naturally offer greater policy leverage in establishing a European knowledge infrastructure. Moreover, strengthened inter-network connectivity among research and diffusion activities (deployment) would raise the effectiveness of European research in terms of accelerating innovation.

Networked research: European policy intervention in ICTs

We use social network analysis to evaluate ‘behavioural’ additionality aspects of public programmes supporting research and development (R&D). The paper appraises empirically the partnership and knowledge networks created around the R&D activities of the Information Society Priority of the Sixth Research Framework Programme of the European Community. These emergent, scale-free networks are found to play an important role in generating and, especially, in diffusing knowledge by attracting key industry actors and by strengthening overall network connectivity through public support. Public policy should try to facilitate the development of more European organisations that can be characterised as global network hubs, on the one hand, and to draw larger numbers of the most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into these programmes, on the other, to avoid technological lock-ins and mitigate the resistance or network reorientation toward more productive research areas.

The impact of EU-funded research networks on knowledge diffusion at the regional level

Research networks foster the dissemination of innovation-related knowledge. To address this conjecture, we evaluate the structure of collaborative networks and of knowledge transfer between research, innovation and deployment activities in the field of information and communication technology for the European Union as a whole and for several European regions. We find that research networks complement diffusion networks by increasing the number of links and organisations involved in exchanging knowledge. Two types of actors are key players in these networks: hubs maintain the bulk of ties in the networks also helping the smaller and more isolated members remain connected; gatekeepers bridge research and diffusion networks.

European Policy Favouring Networks in ICT

Innovation Networks in Industries provides an extensive study in the fields of industry structure, firm strategy and public policy through the use of network concepts and indicators. It also elucidates many of the complexities and challenges involved.

Knowledge Search and Strategic Alliance: Evidence from the Electronics Industry

Innovation Networks in Industries provides an extensive study in the fields of industry structure, firm strategy and public policy through the use of network concepts and indicators. It also elucidates many of the complexities and challenges involved.

Evaluating the Links between Research and Deployment Networks of Innovation in Information Society in Europe

Innovation Networks in Industries provides an extensive study in the fields of industry structure, firm strategy and public policy through the use of network concepts and indicators. It also elucidates many of the complexities and challenges involved.

The exploration of knowledge networks through patent citations

The aim of this chapter is to discuss the methodological issues arising from the use of patent citations data as relational data and to provide an example of empirical analysis. In particular, we propose to use patent citations data to explore knowledge networks at the level of organizations, that is, companies and other institutions. We focus our analysis on two different types of network: citation and co-citation networks. We argue that the former type of network could map knowledge diffusion networks; the latter could map the technological space. Using this perspective, this chapter examines the main structural properties of the knowledge networks in semiconductor and computer industries. In order to capture the organizations position in both co-citation and direct patent citation networks, we calculate, for each sector, two different measures: the crowdedness of a companys position in the technological space and a measure of its status. These two measures allow us to map the position of any organization and to defi ne a taxonomy of four different kinds of organizations: technological leaders, technological followers, brokers of new technologies and isolated organizations. The results of our analysis shows differences between the semiconductor and computer sectors and the difference between European and non-European companies in terms of technological niches.