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Knowledge collaboration and proximity - The spatial organization of biotech innovation projects

Moodysson, Jerker LU and Jonsson, Ola LU (2007) In European Urban and Regional Studies 14(2). p.115-131
Abstract
This article addresses the role of proximity for knowledge collaboration between dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs) and related actors. Innovation projects managed by a selection of eight Swedish DBFs are analysed in detail and classified with regard to their specific knowledge characteristics. Based on this classification, explanations to the relative importance of functional and relational proximity to collaborators are sought. The findings indicate that knowledge collaboration in projects characterized by embodied knowledge are more sensitive to functional proximity than projects characterized by embrained and encoded knowledge. The findings also indicate that even though functional proximity is facilitative, global knowledge... (More)
This article addresses the role of proximity for knowledge collaboration between dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs) and related actors. Innovation projects managed by a selection of eight Swedish DBFs are analysed in detail and classified with regard to their specific knowledge characteristics. Based on this classification, explanations to the relative importance of functional and relational proximity to collaborators are sought. The findings indicate that knowledge collaboration in projects characterized by embodied knowledge are more sensitive to functional proximity than projects characterized by embrained and encoded knowledge. The findings also indicate that even though functional proximity is facilitative, global knowledge collaboration is indispensable for most DBFs. The convenience of local collaboration can never replace the extreme requirements of specialized knowledge, which forces them to seek collaborators on a global arena despite the impediments they face in these situations. Policy resources aimed at promoting bioregions are therefore better used to enhance local resources and to provide conditions for DBFs to link up with global sources of knowledge rather than to boost the formation of 'second best' local networks. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
projects, innovation, knowledge, biotechnology, proximity
in
European Urban and Regional Studies
volume
14
issue
2
pages
115 - 131
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • wos:000246338000002
  • scopus:34147144208
ISSN
0969-7764
DOI
10.1177/0969776407075556
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
204889ec-9c27-434f-adc9-67d8646445dc (old id 660507)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:29:38
date last changed
2024-01-08 22:10:30
@article{204889ec-9c27-434f-adc9-67d8646445dc,
  abstract     = {{This article addresses the role of proximity for knowledge collaboration between dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs) and related actors. Innovation projects managed by a selection of eight Swedish DBFs are analysed in detail and classified with regard to their specific knowledge characteristics. Based on this classification, explanations to the relative importance of functional and relational proximity to collaborators are sought. The findings indicate that knowledge collaboration in projects characterized by embodied knowledge are more sensitive to functional proximity than projects characterized by embrained and encoded knowledge. The findings also indicate that even though functional proximity is facilitative, global knowledge collaboration is indispensable for most DBFs. The convenience of local collaboration can never replace the extreme requirements of specialized knowledge, which forces them to seek collaborators on a global arena despite the impediments they face in these situations. Policy resources aimed at promoting bioregions are therefore better used to enhance local resources and to provide conditions for DBFs to link up with global sources of knowledge rather than to boost the formation of 'second best' local networks.}},
  author       = {{Moodysson, Jerker and Jonsson, Ola}},
  issn         = {{0969-7764}},
  keywords     = {{projects; innovation; knowledge; biotechnology; proximity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{115--131}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{European Urban and Regional Studies}},
  title        = {{Knowledge collaboration and proximity - The spatial organization of biotech innovation projects}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0969776407075556}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0969776407075556}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}