PRTLI_INNOVSYS:

"Conceptualising, Modelling and Evaluating Systems of Innovation"

This is one of the five major CISC projects financed under Cycle 3 of the PRTLI (Programme of Research in Third Level Institutions) managed by the Higher Education Authority under the Irish Government's National Development Plan.

Project Leader:

Professor Michael Cuddy

Participants:

Professor Michael Cuddy

Professor Roy Green

Dr Rachel Hilliard

Professor David Jacobson



Bettina Kroneck

Thomas McDonnell

Dr Dimitrios Pontikakis

Background
Whereas traditional economic analyses of technological change are predicated on the unproblematic transformation of well-defined inputs into marketable outputs, the innovation systems approach stresses the complexity of linkages between actors and institutions involved in science, technology and innovation (STI). This innovation systems approach directs our attention towards the importance of knowledge flows, including flows of knowledge embodied in human capital, which are understood to be crucial to the diffusion of product and process innovations (Dosi 1988, EU 1999, Freeman 1995, Lundvall 1992, Nelson 1993, OECD 1997, Patel and Pavitt 1994).
Understanding such linkages and flows is acutely relevant to an analysis of the emerging scientific, commercial and technological regime which is characterised by especial dependence on information and communications technologies -- the so-called 'knowledge-based economy' (OECD 1996).

While up to now, the presumption of innovation systems analysis has mainly been that such systems share the boundaries of nation states, a Regional Innovation Systems approach is now emerging (Cooke et. al. 1997 Padmore and Gibson 1998). Whether Ireland is best thought of as one Regional Innovation System within a supra-national context, or as comprising distinguishable sub-systems, is one basic -- and open -- research question.

Science, technology and innovation policy in Ireland is at a relatively early stage and is motivated by the desire to embed and sustain recent economic progress, recognising that technological change and consequent productivity increases are the key to long run increases in material living standards, and thus to generating the capacity to achieve wider socio-economic goals (STIAC 1995, Office of Science and Technology 1996). The success of this policy effort will in part depend on the quality of our understanding of innovation processes ( 1999, Leavy and Jacobson 1998/99)



Project description
Task 1 Survey of existing STI and Innovation Systems approaches
This Task is to deliver a structured account of the conceptual territory which informs the innovation systems approach in analysing STI activities, moving beyond a critique of neo-classical models towards concepts which can be made operational in applied work in an efficient way. A particular concern here is to identify the distinctive role which public policy actors can or might play within such systems, particularly at sub-national levels e.g. in addressing 'systemic failures', beyond the neo-classical 'market-failures' approach.

Task 2 Metrics and indicators for Innovation Systems in Ireland

We provide from existing data sources preliminary descriptions of innovation systems in Ireland. Initial approaches will embrace measures such as R&D expenditures, numbers of researchers, conventional productivity/growth accounting exercises, a preliminary mapping of knowledge flows and identification of actors in public sector research systems. These exercises will inform an initial view of the salience of the regional innovation systems approach to Ireland, although the key outcome will be the identification of specific empirical gaps which this project will address.

Task 3 Elaboration of theory/collection of new data on Innovation Systems in Ireland

From the earlier considerations of conceptual frameworks and empirical counterparts, the project will identify particular aspects of innovation systems which will be further explored at both theoretical and applied levels. This task is, from this distance, open-ended: the outcomes of the previous Tasks will determine the precise agenda. One working possibility is to measure and model inter- and intra- regional knowledge flows in Ireland, as embodied in human capital, for particular sectors. A second focus here might be to examine the role of information and communications technologies infrastructure in regional innovation systems. Methodologies employed would included survey and interview work to feed into growth/productivity accounting, econometric and/or simulation exercises.

Task 4 Evaluation of the implications for STI policy of the Innovation System approach

Whereas neo-classical analyses of economic structures have their counterpart theories of public policy in welfare economics and public choice theory; the distinctive implications of innovation systems for policy analysis, particularly at regional levels, require consideration and articulation. This implies a matching of general theoretical and empirical insights from the previous Tasks with the institutional complexities specific to particular innovation systems. Thus, some further theoretical elaboration, in additional to field work/data collection, would inform this attempt to move towards policy consequences from the underlying positive descriptions/models of the innovation system.

Publications, presentations etc, for this project:

Books:

Pontikakis, D., (2006) Technology Diffusion in Industry, Cambridge Scholars Press, Cambridge. (forthcoming) Details >>

Journal articles:

Collins, P. and Pontikakis, D. (2006), �Innovation systems in the European periphery: the policy approaches of Ireland and Greece�, Science and Public Policy, Volume 33, Number 10, December, pp. 757-769

Dundon, T. Gonzalez-Perez, M.A. and McDonough, T. �Bitten by the Celtic Tiger: immigrant workers and industrial relations in the new �Glocalised� Ireland�. Economic and Industrial Democracy. (Forthcoming)

Gonzalez-Perez, M.A., McDonough, T. and Raghavendra, S. �Trade Union Movement: CSR, Civil Society and Transnational Labour Relations in the Agriculture Industry�. Indian Journal of Labour Economics. (Forthcoming)

Pontikakis, D., Lin, Y., and Demirbas, D., 2006 "History Matters in Greece: The adoption of internet-enabled computers by small and medium sized enterprises" Information Economics and Policy, Vol. 18, Issue 3, September 2006, pp. 332-358

Pontikakis, D., McDonnell, T. and Geoghegan, W., "Ireland�s National Innovation System: An Exploratory Study of Supporting Institutions and Dynamic Actors", Prometheus, March 2006, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 37-58

CISC Working papers:

Gonzalez-Perez, M.A, & McDonough T., Bananas Ethical Quality: Multi-stakeholders, Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance, CISC Working Paper No: 21, November 2005 Details >>

Gonzalez-Perez, M.A., McDonough, T., Chiquita Brands and the banana business: brands and labour relations transformations, CISC Working Paper No: 23, January 2006 Details >>

Hilliard, R., Jacobson, D., 'Systems of Innovation and their limits: The Case of Environmental Regulation of the Irish Pharmaceutical Industry', CISC Working Paper No. 2. Details >>

Pontikakis, D., McDonnell, T., & Geoghegan, W., Ireland's National Innovation System: An Exploratory Study of Supporting Institutions and Dynamic Actors. CISC Working Paper No. 17, July 2005 Details >>

Pontikakis, D., McDonnell, T., Geoghegan, W., 'Conceptualising a National Innovation System: Actor Roles and Incentives' CISC Working Paper No. 16, May 2005 Details >>

Pontikakis, D., Measuring Stocks and Flows of Human Resources for Science and Technology (HRST); A Survey of Methods, CISC Working Paper No. 18, September 2005 Details >>

Conference papers/presentations:

Collins, P. and Pontikakis, D. (2006), "Innovation Systems in the European Periphery: the case of Ireland and Greece", Regional Studies Association International Conference: Shaping EU Regional Policy: Economic Social and Political Pressures, Leuven, Belgium, June 8-9

Collins, P., & Pontikakis, D., 2007 'Political Leadership and Economic Ideas during the interwar period; the cases of Greece and Ireland. Presented to Economic Leadership in Small Countries: Lessons from teh Twentieth Century Experience. Athens, 13-14 July 2007 Details >>

Dundon, T., Gonzalez-Perez, M.A., & McDonough, T., 2006, Bitten by the Celtic Tiger: immigrant workers and industrial relations in the new "Glocalised" Ireland. Paper presented at the British Universities Industrial Relations (BUIRA) Conference. 29th June 2006

Dundon, T., Gonzalez-Perez, M.A., & McDonough, T., 2006, Bitten by the Celtic Tiger: immigrant workers and industrial relations in the new "Glocalised" Ireland. Paper presented at the British Universities Industrial Relations (BUIRA) Conference. 29th June 2006

Gonzalez-Perez, M.A., & Cullinane, N.,(2006). Desperate and Cheap? A comparison between immigration into Ireland and the United States. Poster presented at the British Universities Industrial Relations (BUIRA) Annual Conference. National University of Ireland, Galway. 28th � 30th June, 2006

Gonzalez-Perez, MA & McDonough, T., 2005, Corporate Social Responsibility and Competitiveness in the Global Banana Industry. CISC Seminar Series, J.E. Cairnes Graduate School of Business and Public Policy, NUI Galway, Ireland, 22nd November 2005

Gonzalez-Perez, MA . Social responsibility networks (SRN) and globalisation of social structures of accumulation (SSA). 1st GSA Postgraduate and Young Researchers International Conference. Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester, United Kingdom. 26th June 2006

Gonzalez-Perez, MA. 2005, 'Responding to Global Issues Locally: Challenging Trade Unions, and labour activists, the case of Migrant Workers in Ireland. Globalisation Issues and Trade Unions. Trade Union Information Week, NUI Galway, Ireland, 9th November 2005

Gonzalez-Perez, MA. 2006 'Qualitative Research Methods and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Clinical Psychology Programme, NUI Galway, Ireland, 25th January 2006

Gonzalez-Perez, MA., McDonough, T., & Nardone, E., (2006) Social Responsibility Networks and the emergence of new industrial relations actors: a case study in the banana industry. Paper presented at the Social Actors, Work Organisation and New Technologies in the 21st Century. International Industrial Relations Association (IIRA) 14th World Congress. Universidad de Lima. Lima, Peru. 11 - 14 September Details >>

Gonzalez-Perez, MA.; McDonough, T. & Nardone, E. (2006) Social Responsibility Networks and the emergence of new industrial relations actors. Poster presented at the he Social Actors, Work Organisation and New Technologies in the 21st Century. International Industrial Relations Association (IIRA) 14th World Congress Universidad de Lima. Lima, Peru. 11th- 14th September

Gonzalez-Perez, MA.; McDonough, T. & Nardone, E. (2006) Redes de Responsabilidad Social, alternativas de participación de la sociedad civil global en las relaciones de trabajo. Poster presented at the Social Actors, Work Organisation and New Technologies in the 21st Century. International Industrial Relations Association (IIRA) 14th World Congress. Universidad de Lima. Lima, Peru. 11th- 14th September

Gonzalez-Perez, Maria-Alejandra & Nardone, Emlyn (2006) Civil Scoiety Activism and Markets Ethics; A Historical Overview of Corporate Social Responsibility. Paper presented at the Centre for Innovation & Structural Change Seminar Series, J.E. Cairnes Graduate School of Business & Public Policy, NUI Galway, 27th March

Gonzalez-Perez, Maria-Alejandra, and Terrence McDonough. 2005. The Banana Business: Transforming Brands and Labour Relations Through Green Social Responsibility. Paper presented at Eighth Annual Conference of the Irish Academy of Management, 7th-9th September 2005, at GMIT.

Gonzalez-Perez, Maria-Alejandra, Terrence McDonough, and Tony Dundon. 2005. Those The 'Celtic Tiger' Have Forgotten: Labour Relations Practices And Migrant Workers In Ireland. Paper presented at Eighth Annual Conference of the Irish Academy of Management, 7th-9th September 2005, at GMIT.

Hilliard, R., Learning to Change: The Role of Organisational Capabilities in Industry Response to Environmental Regulation WIT Research Seminar Oral Presentation National

Hilliard, R., "Tacit knowledge and dynamic capability: the importance of Penrosian image", DRUID Summer Conference on Industrial Dynamics, Denmark.

Kinsella, S.; Gomez, J; Fenzel, D. and Bussler, C. "Sub Game Perfection in Semantic Web Services," Logic, games and philosophy, Colloquium. Prague.

McDonnell, T., 'The History and Development in Ireland with respect to the surge of Foreign Direct Investment' Marquette University Lecture Series

Murphy, F., 2006, The social structures of accumulation (SSA) in global terms: an investigation of the new SSA through emergent capital/labour relations in the Mexican�s maquiladoras of the auto industry. Paper presented at the 1st GSA Postgraduate and Young Researchers International Conference. Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester, United Kingdom. 29th June 2006

O�Boyle, B., & Nardone, E., 2006, Globalisation, critical realism and the social structures of accumulation(SSA). Paper presented at the 1st GSA Postgraduate and Young Researchers International Conference. Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester, United Kingdom, 29th June 2006

Pontikakis, D. (2006), "The Skills Bias Hypothesis: Is a Science and Technology Degree Good for You?", Work Pensions and labour Economics Study Group Annual Conference, Department for Work and Pensions, University of Kent, July 10-12 Details >>

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