TRIPLE HELIX noms.pmd

O-025The dynamic evolution of knowledge-intensive concentrations in nonmetropolitanregionsTriple Helix practice and experiencesJukka Teräs, Andrea Piccaluga, Scuola Superiore Sant´Anna, ItalyMichela Lazzeroni, University of Pisa , ItalyHåkan Ylinenpää, Luleå University of Technology, SwedenKeywords: Triple Helix, regional innovation systems, regional collaborationIntroductionThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to a very rich literature stream with a relatively unexplored approach by providing alongitudinal comparison of three non-metropolitan European concentrations of high-tech activities: Oulu in Finland, Pisa in Italyand Luleå in Sweden.State of the art about the topicPrevious research in the field of regional innovation systems and dynamic regional development has contributed with valuableinsights into the characteristics and dynamics of knowledge-based institutions and actors in forming a favorable regionaldevelopment trajectory. The bulk of this research however has mainly been occupied with studying large high-tech concentrationssuch as Silicon Valley and the Bay Area or Route 128 in Boston; often employing a quite limited time perspective on thephenomenon. We argue that there is need for further research that over time analyses the dynamic forces affecting differenttrajectories in regional knowledge-based development, especially with regard to high-tech concentrations in medium-sizedhigh-tech concentrations with relevant presence of high level public research. We argue that these kinds of concentrations,which often coincide with medium-sized cities, are extremely important for European growth in the next decade. They alsoprovide an empirical reality that is less affected by other factors such as the attractive forces a large city region with capitalfunctions may offer. The research gap is in fact evident if we focus attention on the development of non-metropolitan knowledgeintensiveareas and their industrial clusters.The purpose of this paper is therefore to contribute to this specific knowledge gap by providing a longitudinal comparison (about30 years) of three non-metropolitan European knowledge-intensive concentrations in different parts of Europe: Oulu in Finland,Pisa in Italy and Luleå in Sweden.Research focusThe paper focuses on a description and analysis of the life cycle of the three high-tech concentrations. The specific researchinterest lies in establishing temptative connections between the history of these areas (“where they come from”) and theirpossible future evolution paths after reaching a maturity/decline phase (“where they will go”). From a theoretical point of view, thestudy will build on established innovation system research, including the Triple Helix concept (see e.g. Etzkowitz 2008, Etzkowitz& Leydesdorff 2000) together with some recent findings by Teräs (2008) on the dynamic evolution over time of non-metropolitanconcentrations of high-tech activities. We argue that collaborative dynamics such as the ones employed by Innovation Systemresearch and by the Triple Helix concept have played and will play a relevant role and may contribute to develop our understandingof the dynamic forces in play in such development processes.MethodologyThe research methodology we use builds on combining (triangulating) different methodological approaches, and includes bothquantitative and qualitative analyses. The quantitative analysis builds on data gathered with the same approach in the threeregions and the analysis of some key performance indicators (such as e.g. high-tech jobs), used to assess the status of theareas during different historical periods. The qualitative analysis builds upon a vast amount of reports, interviews and casescollected by the authors in the three areas in the last twenty years. The literature on high-tech clusters, districts, networks etc.will be acknowledged and used in this study.Findings, contributions and implicationsThe paper focuses on the findings related to maturity/decline phases and the abilities of high-tech concentrations to re-inventthemselves, implementing strategies and actions which allow “revamping” processes while on the edge of a static or declinephase. The paper has the Teräs-Ylinenpää (2009) TH Glasgow conference paper “The dynamics of Triple Helix Networks andCollaboration in two Nordic Regions” as one point of departure (also see e.g. City of Oulu 2007). The Madrid Triple Helix 2010conference paper will however provide both quantitative and qualitative analysis of three knowledge-intensive concentrations inEurope by introducing and analyzing also a knowledge-intensive concentration, Pisa district, in Southern Europe ( Teräs 2008,Delfino et al. 2005, Di Minin et al. 2006), and moreover extend the time span of the longitudinal analysis. The ambitious aim ofthe paper is to provide findings and contributions that have implications in a wider European context, partly filling the researchgap on non-metropolitan knowledge-intensive concentrations.Madrid, October 20, 21 & 22 - 2010325