Examining Open Innovation Practices among International Networks of Clusters

1. Examining Open Innovation Practices among International Networks of Clusters Emily Wise, VINNOVA & Lund University, SE Lise Andersen, Reg-X & Southern Denmark Univ. Madeline Smith, EKOS Consulting, UK

2. Presentation Objectives (and Disclaimer) • Present planned research activities • On topics of open innovation, social capital development, and value-added of organized cluster efforts in the context of international innovation networks • Focused on five transnational networks of innovation environments, clusters and SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region • Get peer input on how other regions are working with these topics (in relation to their cluster activities) WARNING

3. Outline • The EU Strategy for the BSR and the BSR Stars Flagship Prog • Research objective/questions • Discussion

4. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Macro Region • FOUR OVERALL OBJECTIVES: • To make the Baltic Sea region an environmentally CLEAN place • To make the Baltic Sea region a PROSPEROUS place • To make the Baltic Sea region an ACCESSIBLE and ATTRACTIVE place • To make the Baltic Sea region a SAFE and SECURE place • And an action plan with 15 action areas (one of whichisresearch and innovation – co-led by Sweden and Poland)

5. Flagship projects in Chap 7 Research & Innovation

6. WHY INCREASED TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN INNOVATIVE MILIEUS, CLUSTERS AND SME NETWORKS? • Countries grow with neighbors that grow • Larger Home Market for products, services and knowledge, 110 million people in 10 countries. (especially important for SMEs) • There is potential that BSR can be a global recognized strong environment in a number of areas • We have Leading companies/universities/ clusters Three logics: 1. A stronger value chain can be offered within the macro region 2. A larger critical mass in research and innovation 3. Complementary competences creates renewal

7. BSR Stars/Stardustaims at creating a number of globally-leading research and innovation hubs • building on existing commercial strengths and specialised competencies around the BSR • linking these research and innovation nodes through transnational collaboration projects • developing stronger critical mass, attractiveness and international competitive position

9. Some of the topics we talk about at TCI conferences • Globalization of innovation and the importance of international cluster cooperation • Cluster dynamics and the process of social capital building (within clusters) • Open innovation • Evaluation of impact from policy investments in clustering efforts

10. Objective of the research project Understand how international innovation processes are facilitated by the network of cluster organizations (and other actors within regional innovation systems) within the BSR • What are cluster actors’ expectations/expected benefits with transnational cluster networks? • Do cluster organizations facilitate the strengthening of international linkages between company and research actors in the networks? • Is it important to have strong internal cluster dynamics (i.e. social capital) before pursuing innovation activities internationally? • Do existing policies support open innovation activities within a cluster and between clusters internationally?

11. How do knowledge linkages develop internationally (through network nodes)? ILLUSTRATIVE

12. Clusters and Social Capital • Previous studies give a snapshot picture • Show current state • Are relatively static • Reality is that: • How organisations work together is important • This is poorly captured in evaluation (Social Capital?) • Cluster dynamics model • Systems thinking approach • explores dynamic nature of clusters • Shows behaviours and company interaction as cluster develops • Developed in Scotland, successfully implemented in Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, California, Finland

13. Collection – Cooperation - Collaboration Global competition and external market pressure Degree of enhancement of competitive innovation Competitive power of cluster Motivation for competitive innovation Platform for new level of innovation Performance of individual firms Overall performance of all firms in the zone Overall Cluster competitive performance Extent of shared response to common challenges Sharing of critical sectoral knowledge Extent of cooperative initiatives Type of cultural context L3 COLLABORATIVE ADVANTAGE LOOP L4 VENTURE ATTRACTIVENESS LOOP L1 INTER-FIRM RIVALRY LOOP L2 INTER-FIRM CO-OPERATION LOOP L5 FUTURE FOCUS LOOP Stimulation and Acquisition of relevant research and development The Cluster Dynamic Loops Smith and Brown, Local Economy, June 2009

14. Open Innovation – Leveraging Social Capital

15. Clusters are ... • Learning organisations • By nature open and collaborative • Share knowledge • Learn from each other • Work in different ways • A Hotbed of Open Innovation? • Need better understanding of how clusters can also work in this way transnationally?

16. Questions for Discussion • How can Open Innovation approaches (and mind-sets) help cluster development? • How can we encourage collaboration • Within a cluster, between clusters, transnationally • What are the essential pre-requisites for successful transnational cooperation? • Are there other transnational cluster pilots that we can share learning between?

17. Contact information Emily Wise emily.wise@vinnova.se Mobile: +46 73 101 1426