415 research outputs found
The Swedish Paradox arises in Fast-Growing Sectors
No full textThe aim of this paper is to examine whether the previously observed gap between growth of R&D and economic performance, known as the ‘Swedish paradox’, is a general phenomenon across all sectors of the economy, or only occurs in specific industry segments. The dataset used for the analysis covers nearly the entire Swedish economy 1985-1998, divided into five broad sectors: Fast-growing industries, Slow-growing industries, Industrial outphasers, Fast- growing producer services and Other services. The growth of R&D, value added and research productivity is compared for these sectors and the largest gap between R&D and value added is located to the fast growing sectors of the economy. The Swedish paradox is therefore not necessarily a sign of weakness or deficiency of the innovation system, but rather indicates that long-term growth requires large investments in knowledge-building resources.Swedish paradox; sectors; R&D; research productivity; economic growth.
Att skaffa barn sätter punkt för kvinnans forskarkarriär
No full textHård konkurrens och osäkra anställningar inom akademin skapar dåliga förutsättningar för både forskning och yrkesbana. Kvinnor drabbas särskilt hårt och deras karriärer stagnerar när de får barn. Forskarpapporna då? De är till synes opåverkade och fortsätter att publicera i allt högre tempo, skriver ekonomiforskaren Olof Ejermo i en ny rapport
Utlandsfödda forskare mer produktiva än svenskfödda
No full textDiskussionen om Sveriges forskningspolitik pågår för fullt, med utspel, utredningar och målkonflikter. Men forskning påverkas av fler faktorer än bara det ekonomiska. Stora lärosäten ska inte nödvändigtvis prioriteras, och det krävs krafttag för att komma åt könsgapet i publikationstakt, skriver innovationsforskarna Olof Ejermo och Yotam Sofer
Att skaffa barn sätter punkt för kvinnans forskarkarriär [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textHård konkurrens och osäkra anställningar inom akademin skapar dåliga förutsättningar för både forskning och yrkesbana. Kvinnor drabbas särskilt hårt och deras karriärer stagnerar när de får barn. Forskarpapporna då? De är till synes opåverkade och fortsätter att publicera i allt högre tempo, skriver ekonomiforskaren Olof Ejermo i en ny rapport
Utlandsfödda forskare mer produktiva än svenskfödda
No full textDiskussionen om Sveriges forskningspolitik pågår för fullt, med utspel, utredningar och målkonflikter. Men forskning påverkas av fler faktorer än bara det ekonomiska. Stora lärosäten ska inte nödvändigtvis prioriteras, och det krävs krafttag för att komma åt könsgapet i publikationstakt, skriver innovationsforskarna Olof Ejermo och Yotam Sofer
Comparing knowledge bases: on the organisation and geography of knowledge flows in the regional innovation system of Scania, southern Sweden
No full textThis paper deals with knowledge flows and collaboration between firms in the regional innovation system of southern Sweden. It focuses on industries which draw on different types of knowledge bases. The aim is to analyse how the functional and spatial organisation of knowledge interdependencies among firms and other actors vary between different types of industries which are part of the same regional innovation system. We argue that knowledge sourcing and exchange in geographical proximity is especially important for industries that rely on a synthetic or symbolic knowledge base, since the interpretation of the knowledge they deal with tend to differ between places. This is less the case for industries drawing on an analytical knowledge base, which rely more on scientific knowledge that is codified, abstract and universal, and therefore less sensitive to geographical distance. Thus, geographic clustering of firms in analytical industries builds on other rationale than the need of proximity for knowledge sourcing and exchange. To analyse these assumptions empirically, we draw on data from three case studies of firm clusters in the region of southern Sweden: (1) the life science cluster represents an analytical (science) based industry, (2) the food cluster includes mainly synthetic (engineering) based industries, and (3) the moving media cluster is considered as symbolic (artistic) based. Knowledge sourcing and knowledge exchange in each of the cases are explored and compared using social network analysis in association with a dataset gathered through interviews with firm representatives.knowledge bases; life science; food cluster; moving media; Sweden
Considering adoption: Towards a consumption-oriented approach to innovation
No full textWhat are the forces that shape the adoption of innovations? This question has been sidelined in a largely production-centric literature on the economic geography of innovation. Inspired by Weber’s dual concern with procurement and distribution activities in the location of industry, this paper examines the new nature of distances products must overcome en route to the market, and the resources that are necessary to do this successfully. Building on findings in sociology, this paper suggest a consumption-centric perspective and future research on innovation in the knowledge-based economy, which foregrounds the significance of actors that are able to validate new products.innovation adoption and diffusion; consumption; sociology of scientific knowledge; Alfred Weber; knowledge economy
Electrification and energy productivity
No full textEfficiency in energy use is crucial for sustainable development. We use cointegration analyses to investigate the effect of electricity on energy productivity in Swedish industry 1930-1990. Electricity augmented energy productivity in those industrial branches that used electricity for multiple purposes. This productivity effect goes beyond “book-keeping effects”, i. e. it is not only the result of electricity being produced in one sector (taking the energy transformation losses) and consumed in another (receiving the benefits).Energy; electricity; sustainable development; productivity
Regional Institutional Environment and Its Impact on Intra-firm and Inter-organisational Innovation Networks: A Comparative Case Study in China and Switzerland
No full textThis paper investigates the structure of the intra-firm innovation networks (IntraINs) and the inter-organisational innovation networks (InterINs) of six leading manufacturing companies in the Great Zurich Area of Switzerland and the Sichuan province of China. It assesses the regional institutional environments (RIEs) of these two regions and explores their impact on the connectedness of both the IntraINs and InterINs of the case companies. It finds that RIE has no apparent impact on the case firms’ IntraINs. The impact of RIE on the InterINs is mainly manifested through its impact on the connections among the outside organisations rather than the direct connections between the focal firms and their outside collaborators. It is suggested that for helping big companies to build up innovation networks, public policy should be deployed to improve the RIE instead of directly bridging firms and the outside organisations which the firms can do it well by themselves.Innovation network; Regional institutional environment; Intra-firm; Inter-organisational; Chin; Switzerland
Innovation Policy Design: Identification of Systemic Problems
No full text‘Activities’ in innovation systems are the determinants of the development and diffusion of innovations. Examples are R&D, provision of organizations and institutions, financing of innovations, incubation, etc. These activities are partly performed by private organizations and partly by public organizations, the latter performing tasks that constitute innovation policy. As a basis for innovation policy, the problems (failures) in the systems must be identified. This paper focuses upon the design of innovation policy through diagnostic analysis; it provides a framework for identification of systemic problems (or failures) in innovation systems.Innovations systems; innovation policy
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