The role of the hub-firm in  developing innovation capabilities: considering the French wine industry  cluster from a resource orchestration lens

By: M. Kumar, M. Pullman, T. Bouzdine-Chameeva, V. Sanchez Rodrigues. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, DOI: 10.1108/IJOPM-08-2021-0519, March 2022.

Abstract: “Purpose – This paper explores how hub-firms in a regional industrial cluster orchestrate resources to enhance the innovation capabilities of member firms and how this role changes as innovation projects develop. The work advances our understanding of how innovation-oriented clusters can drive the collaboration process, support the development of member capabilities and achieve desired outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – The research utilises exploratory case studies within an innovation cluster, where a hub-firm brings together different players for specific innovation projects. Using resource orchestration theory, the paper analyses six project cases to reveal the shifting roles and activities related to structuring, bundling and leveraging different resources for innovation capabilities particularly associated with improved quality and reputation for the firms and region. Findings – The study reveals the important role played by the cluster hub-firm in structuring, bundling and leveraging resources to create and fund project teams. After project formation, a team member takes the role of an orchestrator to bundle further and then leverage the resources to achieve desired outcomes for the team and the region. Research limitations/implications – This work focuses on a wine industry but has implications for the success orchestration of other regional industrial clusters. Also, the lack of hub-firm interaction during the project process provides an opportunity to consider mechanisms for better guidance of the project team. Practical implications – There are implications for practitioners for participating in and further improving the collaborative innovative process. Social implications – Policymakers can benefit from the study as the required practices for stimulating innovation capabilities and economic development in a region are discussed. Originality/value –This research enhances understanding of the hub-firm’s role in a regional cluster not only in orchestrating resources to create collaborative innovation projects but how the role shifts over time.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Effects of cluster policies on  regional inventor networks: evidence from France

By: K. A. N’Ghauran, C. Autant-Bernard. Regional Studies, DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2021.2015534, February 2022.

Abstract: “Focusing on the French cluster policy, this study aims at evaluating how cluster policies influence the structure of local inventor networks. Based on a panel data of four periods and 94 NUTS-3 French regions, we implement various model specifications to make explicit processes that may drive the impact of the policy. The results suggest that spatial interdependences and region-specific trends should be considered to make correct causal inference about such place-based policies. Overall, the results do not provide clear evidence supporting that the French cluster policy has strengthened the cohesion, efficiency and resilience of local inventor networks.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Innovation Network  and Knowledge Clusters Accelerating Value Creation in the Middle East and North  Africa 

By N. Dhaulta. In Advanced  Strategies in Entrepreneurship, Education and Ecology, DOI: 10.1108/978-1-80071-517-220221013, March 2022.

Abstract: “Purpose: Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries demonstrate outstanding potential for innovative entrepreneurship due to the undiversified economy it has. The chapter unravels knowledge management’s scope to convert the MENA into a knowledge economy while ensuring sustainable development. Knowledge management through digitalization, big data analytics, and other technology-enabled practices could be embraced through various knowledge clusters and innovation networks. Design/methodology/approach: The chapter proposes a conceptual model based on the quadruple helix model of innovation and associated knowledge and innovation networks operating together through a technology-enabled knowledge management process. MENA’s current status and expected performance are analyzed based on the given model. Findings: An emergent need to digitalize the institutional operations, and knowledge flow from the four helices of innovation is realized. To ensure economic sustainability, MENA countries need to work on political stability, transparency, and accountability to ensure the flow of reliable knowledge in the knowledge management process. Building human competencies and skills is still a challenge for many MENA countries. Hence, education institutes need to introduce academic programs that are compatible with the labor requirement of the area. Since the region has a youth population in large proportion, human capital formation can bypass the over-population and unemployment challenge and instead become a competitive advantage. Originality/value: The given chapter explores the knowledge management process, capabilities, benefits, competencies from the perspective of sustainable growth in MENA countries. It also recommends extensive data operations and analytics to enhance the knowledge-based economy.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurial ecosystems, regional  clusters, and industrial district: Historical transformation or rhetorical devices?

By: H. Rocha, D. B. Audretsch. The Journal of Technology Transfer, DOI: 10.1007/s10961-022-09920-6, February 2022.

Abstract: “Following the call for an assessment of recent developments and an understanding of the state-of-the-art of entrepreneurial ecosystems, this paper investigates the historical evolution of entrepreneurial ecosystems, regional clusters, and industrial districts to untangle their necessary and specific dimensions and policy implications. It aims at reducing the gap between the increasing academic and policy interest in entrepreneurial ecosystems and the theoretical grounds upon which research and policies are based. To this end, it traces back the phenomena of ecosystems, clusters, and industrial districts to their origin, using critical realism ontology and historical organization studies as research methods. This paper contributes a historical and theoretical framework that provides academic rigor for understanding entrepreneurial ecosystems and policy rationales for evaluating economic development policies.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

How to Be More Innovative in Clusters? The Influence of  Geographical Agglomerations on Its Firms

By: B. A. Bittencourt, A. C. Zen, F. Prévot, V. K. Schmidt. Journal of the knowledge Economy, DOI: 10.1007/s13132-022-00975-2, March 2022.

Abstract: “This study aims to understand how clusters influence the innovation of firms. Clustered firms have consistently been considered more innovative than isolated firms. However, how geographic clusters influence firms to innovate is still a black box in the literature. To fill this gap, we conducted an exploratory study of four firms in two clusters: the emerging cluster Alto do Camaquã in Brazil and the growing cluster Sisteron in France. We identify the elements of the cluster that influence the innovation of firms: context, collective strategy, public policy, commercialization, proactivity, external relations, collaboration, assimilation, transformation and application of knowledge, governance, infrastructure, and financial and human resources. We compare these elements with field research and offer four propositions in relation to how clusters influence firms in terms of innovation strategy, culture, management, and infrastructure. The findings indicate that the influence of the cluster varies according to the development stage. We thus identify two development stages and propose a model to understand the relationship between clusters and the innovation of their firms.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

The geography of information:  evidence from the public debt market

By: B. Francis, I. Hasan, M. Waisman. Journal of Economic Geography, DOI: 10.1093/jeg/lbac002, March 2022.

Abstract: “We investigate the link between the spatial concentration of firms in large, central metropolitans (i.e. urban agglomeration) and the cost of public corporate debt. Looking at bond issues over the period 1985–2014, we find that bonds issued by companies headquartered in urban agglomerates have lower at-issue yield spreads than bonds issued by firms based in remote, sparsely populated areas. Measures of the count of institutional bondholders in a firm’s vicinity confirm that the spatial cross-sectional variation in bond spreads is driven by the proximity of metropolitan firms to large concentrations of institutional investors. Our results are robust to controls for firm productivity and governance, analyst following, and exogenous shocks to institutional investor attention. The effect of headquarters location on bond spreads is especially pronounced for more difficult to value, speculative-grade bonds, bonds issued by smaller, less visible firms and bonds issued without protective covenants. Overall, we provide evidence that the geographical distribution of firms and investors generates a corresponding distribution of value-relevant, firm-level information that affects its cost of capital.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Research versus development: global cities and the location  of MNCs’ cross-border R&D investments

By: H. S. Du, R. Belderbos, D. Somers. Regional Studies, DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2022.2033198, March 2022.

Abstract: “Large, internationally connected cities are important hubs of innovative activity, yet research on the attractiveness of such ‘global’ cities for research and development (R&D) activities by multinational corporations (MNCs) is scarce. We posit that factors determining cities’ potential to attract R&D investments by MNCs differ depending on the type of R&D investments: research or development. We investigate the heterogeneous determinants of location choices for 1537 cross-border R&D investments by 633 MNCs in 55 global cities during the period 2003–12. The findings suggest that cities’ technological and university strengths are stronger attracting factors for research activities, while global cities’ market potential and intellectual property rights protection attract investments in development activities. Implications are discussed.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

The role of initial and gradual trust in growing an  unlocking regional industrial specialisations

By: M. Grillitsch, M. Nilsson. Industry and Innovation, DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2022.2036599, February 2022.

Abstract: “Regional development is a dynamic process where relatively stable periods are interrupted by phases of more rapid transformation and disruption. Such dynamics are heavily influenced by the scope and nature of knowledge networks. Trust is a key mechanism influencing the mobilisation of networks for learning and innovation and thereby an important factor for understanding regional development. This paper sets out to unpack the role of initial and gradual trust in regional development by advancing a differentiated view that sheds light on why, when, and how trust affects regional development dynamics in a positive or negative way. Avenues for future research are identified.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]