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Smart Specialization as an Innovation-Driven Strategy for Economic Diversification : Examples From Scandinavian Regions

Asheim, Bjørn LU ; Grillitsch, Markus LU and Trippl, Michaela LU (2017) p.73-97
Abstract

This chapter provides conceptual and empirical foundations for smart specialization, a policy approach of far-reaching importance in the European context. We interpret the very notion as “diversified” specialization into areas of existing or potential competitive advantage, which differentiates a region/nation from others. “Smart” relates to the identification of these areas through a process of entrepreneurial discovery, in which all actors are mobilized to be able to discover domains for securing existing and future competitiveness. Competitive advantage through smart specialization can be promoted in all types of industries but based on the industry-specific modes of innovation and knowledge bases, which is illustrated through case... (More)

This chapter provides conceptual and empirical foundations for smart specialization, a policy approach of far-reaching importance in the European context. We interpret the very notion as “diversified” specialization into areas of existing or potential competitive advantage, which differentiates a region/nation from others. “Smart” relates to the identification of these areas through a process of entrepreneurial discovery, in which all actors are mobilized to be able to discover domains for securing existing and future competitiveness. Competitive advantage through smart specialization can be promoted in all types of industries but based on the industry-specific modes of innovation and knowledge bases, which is illustrated through case studies in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Depending on the preconditions, we find that variegated strategies of smart specialization are pursued, including building the absorptive capacity of DUI-based firms by increasing their research-based competence (introducing analytical knowledge), combining unrelated knowledge bases to move into new related and unrelated industries, combining related knowledge bases to move into unrelated industries, and moving into high value–added niches by introducing symbolic knowledge in traditional sectors.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
economic diversification, entrepreneurial discovery, innovation-based competition, research and development, smart specialization
host publication
Advances in the Theory and Practice of Smart Specialization
pages
25 pages
publisher
ScienceDirect, Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85136767952
ISBN
9780128041598
9780128041376
DOI
10.1016/B978-0-12-804137-6.00004-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
id
28be65df-925f-4e33-ba83-d0e2d772a66a
date added to LUP
2022-10-03 15:14:04
date last changed
2024-04-18 08:57:09
@inbook{28be65df-925f-4e33-ba83-d0e2d772a66a,
  abstract     = {{<p>This chapter provides conceptual and empirical foundations for smart specialization, a policy approach of far-reaching importance in the European context. We interpret the very notion as “diversified” specialization into areas of existing or potential competitive advantage, which differentiates a region/nation from others. “Smart” relates to the identification of these areas through a process of entrepreneurial discovery, in which all actors are mobilized to be able to discover domains for securing existing and future competitiveness. Competitive advantage through smart specialization can be promoted in all types of industries but based on the industry-specific modes of innovation and knowledge bases, which is illustrated through case studies in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Depending on the preconditions, we find that variegated strategies of smart specialization are pursued, including building the absorptive capacity of DUI-based firms by increasing their research-based competence (introducing analytical knowledge), combining unrelated knowledge bases to move into new related and unrelated industries, combining related knowledge bases to move into unrelated industries, and moving into high value–added niches by introducing symbolic knowledge in traditional sectors.</p>}},
  author       = {{Asheim, Bjørn and Grillitsch, Markus and Trippl, Michaela}},
  booktitle    = {{Advances in the Theory and Practice of Smart Specialization}},
  isbn         = {{9780128041598}},
  keywords     = {{economic diversification; entrepreneurial discovery; innovation-based competition; research and development; smart specialization}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  pages        = {{73--97}},
  publisher    = {{ScienceDirect, Elsevier}},
  title        = {{Smart Specialization as an Innovation-Driven Strategy for Economic Diversification : Examples From Scandinavian Regions}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804137-6.00004-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/B978-0-12-804137-6.00004-8}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}