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How smart is specialisation? An analysis of specialisation patterns in knowledge production

Heimeriks, Gaston and Balland, Pierre Alexandre LU (2016) In Science and Public Policy 43(4). p.562-574
Abstract

To understand how the specialisation patterns of cities differ among scientific fields, we study patterns of knowledge production in Astrophysics, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Organic Chemistry in the period 1996-2012. Using keywords from journal publications, we find systematic differences across scientific fields, but remarkable similarities across cities within each field. Biotechnology shows a turbulent pattern with comparative advantages that are short lasting, and with few related topics are available for research locations. Astrophysics-and in later years Nanotechnology-show a pattern of stable rankings, comparative advantages that last longer, and many related topics potentially available for research locations. Organic... (More)

To understand how the specialisation patterns of cities differ among scientific fields, we study patterns of knowledge production in Astrophysics, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Organic Chemistry in the period 1996-2012. Using keywords from journal publications, we find systematic differences across scientific fields, but remarkable similarities across cities within each field. Biotechnology shows a turbulent pattern with comparative advantages that are short lasting, and with few related topics are available for research locations. Astrophysics-and in later years Nanotechnology-show a pattern of stable rankings, comparative advantages that last longer, and many related topics potentially available for research locations. Organic Chemistry has an intermediate position. Thus, fields of knowledge production have fundamentally different characteristics that require different smart specialisation strategies taking into account the differences in accumulation and relatedness.

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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Innovation policy, Path dependency, Scientific knowledge dynamics, Smart specialisation
in
Science and Public Policy
volume
43
issue
4
pages
13 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:84997769333
  • wos:000393310000010
ISSN
0302-3427
DOI
10.1093/scipol/scv061
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
45a20c1a-2f5e-409a-af7c-66d9a5495f8c
date added to LUP
2016-12-30 11:44:02
date last changed
2025-01-12 18:46:24
@article{45a20c1a-2f5e-409a-af7c-66d9a5495f8c,
  abstract     = {{<p>To understand how the specialisation patterns of cities differ among scientific fields, we study patterns of knowledge production in Astrophysics, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Organic Chemistry in the period 1996-2012. Using keywords from journal publications, we find systematic differences across scientific fields, but remarkable similarities across cities within each field. Biotechnology shows a turbulent pattern with comparative advantages that are short lasting, and with few related topics are available for research locations. Astrophysics-and in later years Nanotechnology-show a pattern of stable rankings, comparative advantages that last longer, and many related topics potentially available for research locations. Organic Chemistry has an intermediate position. Thus, fields of knowledge production have fundamentally different characteristics that require different smart specialisation strategies taking into account the differences in accumulation and relatedness.</p>}},
  author       = {{Heimeriks, Gaston and Balland, Pierre Alexandre}},
  issn         = {{0302-3427}},
  keywords     = {{Innovation policy; Path dependency; Scientific knowledge dynamics; Smart specialisation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{562--574}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Science and Public Policy}},
  title        = {{How smart is specialisation? An analysis of specialisation patterns in knowledge production}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scv061}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/scipol/scv061}},
  volume       = {{43}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}