[December 2011] PB no.4: "GINs: evidence & policy challenges"

"Global Innovation Networks: evidence and policy challenges"
by Susana Borrás and Stine Haakonsson, Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark, February 2012

Introduction

During the past decade the literature on innovation has paid considerable attention to the internationalisation of innovation. However, there is still little solid evidence about trends, not least about the globalisation of innovation networks. Anecdotic evidence indicates that nationally and regionally-based innovation networks might be in a process of becoming
global, as they seem to be gradually expanding their scope beyond being cross-border and centred around the Triad (Europe, US and Japan), into being present in several world regions simultaneously including the emerging economies (like the BRICS countries) (OECD 2008). One plausible explanation of this move is that firms need to gain access to new markets and to new knowledge competences. Naturally, the ‘globalisation’ of these innovation networks is not a radically new phenomenon, but the continuation of existing trends expanding the international scope of innovative activities (Archibugi and Iammarino 2002). Therefore, in empirical terms, the issue that remains unanswered is whether the anecdotic evidence of the literature reflects or not a more generalised phenomenon, namely the gradual emergence of global innovation networks during the past decade.

Key messages for policy-makers, businesses, trade unions and civil society actors

  • the INGINEUS survey shows few firms which are highly ‘globalised’, highly ‘innovative’ and highly ‘networked’. However, more than 50% of our sample shows the coexistence
    of medium/high levels of globalness, innovativeness and networkedness
  • the effects of global innovation networks on national systems of innovation vary according to the nature of the knowledge of these networks
  • policy-makers might consider revising their internationalisation strategies towards a more ‘network’ approach, might focus on SMEs’ global reach, support the knowledge-base and knowledge capacity-building at national/local level, and be aware of important differences across industrial sectors


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