Adaptability, Transformation and Complex Changes in Namibia and Tanzania: Resilience and Innovation System Development in Local Communities

This thesis is a research about the recent complex spatial changes in Namibia and Tanzania and local communities��� capacity to cope with, adapt to and transform the unpredictability engaged to these processes. I scrutinise the concept of resilience and its potential application to explaining the development of local communities in Southern Africa when facing various social, economic and environmental changes. My research is based on three distinct but overlapping research questions: what are the main spatial changes and their impact on the study areas in Namibia and Tanzania? What are the adaptation, transformation and resilience processes of the studied local communities in Namibia and Tanzania? How are innovation systems developed, and what is their impact on the resilience of the studied local communities in Namibia and Tanzania? I use four ethnographic case studies concerning environmental change, global tourism and innovation system development in Namibia and Tanzania, as well as mixed-methodological approaches, to study these issues. The results of my empirical investigation demonstrate that the spatial changes in the localities within Namibia and Tanzania are unique, loose assemblages, a result of the complex, multisided, relational and evolutional development of human and non-human elements that do not necessarily have linear causalities. Several changes co-exist and are interconnected though uncertain and unstructured and, together with the multiple stressors related to poverty, have made communities more vulnerable to different changes. The communities��� adaptation and transformation measures have been mostly reactive, based on contingency and post hoc learning. Despite various anticipation techniques, coping measures, adaptive learning and self-organisation processes occurring in the localities, the local communities are constrained by their uneven power relationships within the larger assemblages. Thus, communities��� own opportunities to increase their resilience are limited without changing the relations in these multiform entities. Therefore, larger cooperation models are needed, like an innovation system, based on the interactions of different actors to foster cooperation, which require collaboration among and input from a diverse set of stakeholders to combine different sources of knowledge, innovation and learning. Accordingly, both Namibia and Tanzania are developing an innovation system as their key policy to foster transformation towards knowledge-based societies. Finally, the development of an innovation system needs novel bottom-up approaches to increase the resilience of local communities and embed it into local communities. Therefore, innovation policies in Namibia have emphasised the role of indigenous knowledge, and Tanzania has established the Living Lab network.

The use of future-oriented knowledge in regional innovation processes: Research on knowledge generation, transfer and conversion

The importance of the regional level in research has risen in the last few decades and a vast literature in the fields of, for instance, evolutionary and institutional economics, network theories, innovations and learning systems, as well as sociology, has focused on regional level questions. Recently the policy makers and regional actors have also began to pay increasing attention to the knowledge economy and its needs, in general, and the connectivity and support structures of regional clusters in particular. Nowadays knowledge is generally considered as the most important source of competitive advantage, but even the most specialised forms of knowledge are becoming a short-lived resource for example due to the accelerating pace of technological change. This emphasizes the need of foresight activities in national, regional and organizational levels and the integration of foresight and innovation activities. In regional setting this development sets great challenges especially in those regions having no university and thus usually very limited resources for research activities. Also the research problem of this dissertation is related to the need to better incorporate the information produced by foresight process to facilitate and to be used in regional practice-based innovation processes. This dissertation is a constructive case study the case being Lahti region and a network facilitating innovation policy adopted in that region. Dissertation consists of a summary and five articles and during the research process a construct or a conceptual model for solving this real life problem has been developed. It is also being implemented as part of the network facilitating innovation policy in the Lahti region.

Governmental Measures to Enhance the Finnish Innovation System to Respond to the Challenge of Mitigating Climate Change

Climate innovations, that cover both technological applications and process and service innovations, play a key role in climate change mitigation. The purpose of this study was to examine how the Finnish innovation system could be enhanced with governmental measures so that the diffusion of climate innovations could be speeded up. During the study, it became evident that the governmental measures need to support the whole innovation chain, which comprises of research, development, demonstration and deployment. Only this can lead to the successful birth and diffusion of low carbon innovations. The study found that the strengths of the Finnish innovation system are research and development, and the current national innovation policies strongly support these activities. However, these have been emphasised at the expense of the demonstration and deployment. Consequently, the biggest bottlenecks in the Finnish innovation landscape are the lack of pilot and demonstration projects and slow commercialisation, thus the high price of the innovation. To meet with the challenge, the government should firstly promote strict greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. This would boost up the innovation activities, which would also lower the prices of the innovations. To speed up the commercialisation process, measures that stimulate the domestic market, such as feed-in-tariffs and public procurements, are needed. Special attention should also be paid to the measures that could shift the traditional closed innovation chain towards open innovation. This means that the product development should involve experts from several fields such as the user and marketing experts to speed up the commercialisation. In addition, efficient innovation co-operation between both private and public sector is essential. Finally, as the domestic resources are not adequate for producing all the innovations needed, the domestic innovation activities should be focused on a few sectors, and at the same time promote efficient import policies.

The Impact of National Innovation System on Entrepreneurial Venture Creation Process

The important role of entrepreneurship in countries��� economic development and overall society well-being is widely recognized by researchers, experts as well as policy makers. Every phase of the process of starting a new business is related to the interaction with at least one player of country innovation system and therefore the efficiency of this interaction may have an influence on the success of whole entrepreneurial process and consequently on the willingness of potential entrepreneurs to engage into this process. The study proposes a System Dynamics model for studying the impact of National Innovation System (NIS) on the entrepreneurial venture creation process. The developed model also takes country population aspect into account and provides results for estimation the effect various demographic tendencies on the process performance. The special impact is made on possible ways to facilitate the development of entrepreneurial framework conditions. Business incubators are seen as one of the effective tool for accomplishing such task. The study also provides the result for estimation of possible impact arising from properly functioned Business Incubators.

The Russian National Innovation System - an International Perspective

Russia inherited a large research and development (R&D) sector from the Soviet times, and has retained a substantial R&D sector today, compared with other emerging economies. However, Russia is falling behind in all indicators measuring innovative output in comparison with most developed countries. Russia���s innovation performance is disappointing, despite the available stock of human capital and overall investment in R&D. The communist legacy still influences the main actors of the innovation system. The federal state is still the most important funding source for R&D. Private companies are not investing in innovative activities, preferring to ���import��� innovations embedded in foreign technologies. Universities are outsiders in the innovation system, only a few universities carry out research activities. Nowadays, Russia is a resource-depended country. The economy depends on energy and metals for growth. The Russian economy faces the challenge of diversification and should embrace innovation, and shift to a knowledge economy to remain competitive in the long run. Therefore, Russia has to tackle the challenge of developing an efficient innovation system with its huge potential in science expertise and engineering know-how.

Maritime Safety in the Gulf of Finland. Review on Policy Instruments

Suomenlahden lis����ntynyt meriliikenne on her��tt��nyt huolta meriliikenteen turvallisuuden tasosta, ja erityisesti Ven��j��n ��ljyviennin kasvu on lis��nnyt ��ljyonnettomuuden todenn��k��isyytt�� Suomenlahdella. Erilaiset kansainv��liset, alueelliset ja kansalliset ohjauskeinot pyrkiv��t v��hent��m����n merionnettomuuden riski�� ja meriliikenteen muita haittavaikutuksia. T��m�� raportti k��sittelee meriturvallisuuden yhteiskunnallisia ohjauskeinoja: ohjauskeinoja yleisell�� tasolla, meriturvallisuuden keskeisimpi�� s����telij��it��, meriturvallisuuden ohjauskeinoja ja meriturvallisuuspolitiikan tulevaisuuden n��kymi��, ohjauskeinojen tehokkuutta ja nykyisen meriturvallisuuden ohjausj��rjestelm��n heikkouksia. Raportti on kirjallisuuskatsaus meriturvallisuuden yhteiskunnalliseen s����ntelyn rakenteeseen ja tilaan erityisesti Suomenlahden meriliikenteen n��k��kulmasta. Raportti on osa tutkimusprojektia ���SAFGOF - Suomenlahden meriliikenteen kasvun��kym��t 2007 - 2015 ja kasvun vaikutukset ymp��rist��lle ja kuljetusketjujen toimintaan��� ja sen ty��pakettia 6 ���Keskeisimm��t riskit ja yhteiskunnalliset vaikutuskeinot���. Yhteiskunnalliset ohjauskeinot voidaan ryhmitell�� hallinnollisiin, taloudellisiin ja tietoohjaukseen perustuviin ohjauskeinoihin. Meriturvallisuuden edist��misess�� k��ytet����n kaikkia n��it��, mutta hallinnolliset ohjauskeinot ovat t��rkeimm��ss�� asemassa. Merenkulun kansainv��lisen luonteen vuoksi meriturvallisuuden s����ntely tapahtuu p����osin kansainv��lisell�� tasolla YK:n ja erityisesti Kansainv��lisen merenkulkuj��rjest��n (IMO) toimesta. Lis��ksi my��s Euroopan Unionilla on omaa meriturvallisuuteen liittyv���� s����ntely�� ja on my��s olemassa muita alueellisia meriturvallisuuden edist��miseen liittyvi�� elimi�� kuten HELCOM. Joitakin meriturvallisuuden osa-alueita s����dell����n my��s kansallisella tasolla. Hallinnolliset meriturvallisuuden ohjauskeinot sis��lt��v��t aluksen rakenteisiin ja varustukseen, alusten kunnon valvontaan, merimiehiin ja merity��n tekemiseen sek�� navigointiin liittyvi�� ohjauskeinoja. Taloudellisiin ohjauskeinoihin kuuluvat esimerkiksi v��yl��- ja satamamaksut, merivakuutukset, P&I klubit, vastuullisuus- ja korvauskysymykset sek�� taloudelliset kannustimet. Taloudellisten ohjauskeinojen k��ytt�� meriturvallisuuden edist��miseen on melko v��h��ist�� verrattuna hallinnollisten ohjauskeinojen k��ytt����n, mutta niit�� voitaisiin varmasti k��ytt���� enemm��nkin. Ongelmana taloudellisten ohjauskeinojen k��yt��ss�� on se, ett�� ne kuuluvat pitk��lti kansallisen s����ntelyn piiriin, joten alueellisten tai kansainv��listen intressien edist��minen taloudellisilla ohjauskeinoilla voi olla hankalaa. Tieto-ohjaus perustuu toimijoiden vapaaehtoisuuteen ja yleisen tiedotuksen lis��ksi tieto-ohjaukseen sis��ltyy esimerkiksi vapaaehtoinen koulutus, sertifiointi tai meriturvallisuuden edist��miseen t��ht����v��t palkinnot. Poliittisella tasolla meriliikenteen aiheuttamat turvallisuusriskit Suomenlahdella on otettu vakavasti ja paljon ty��t�� tehd����n eri tahoilla riskien minimoimiseksi. Uutta s����ntely�� on odotettavissa etenkin liittyen meriliikenteen ymp��rist��vaikutuksiin ja meriliikenteen ohjaukseen kuten meriliikenteen s��hk��isiin seurantaj��rjestelmiin. My��s inhimilliseen tekij��n merkitykseen meriturvallisuuden kehitt��misess�� on kiinnitetty lis����ntyviss�� m����rin huomiota, mutta inhimilliseen tekij��n osalta tehokkaiden ohjauskeinojen kehitt��minen n��ytt���� olevan haasteellista. Yleisimmin l����kkeeksi esitet����n koulutuksen kehitt��mist��. Kirjallisuudessa esitettyjen kriteereiden mukaan tehokkaiden ohjauskeinojen tulisi t��ytt���� seuraavat vaatimukset: 1) tarkoituksenmukaisuus ��� ohjauskeinojen t��ytyy olla sopivia asetetun tavoitteen saavuttamiseen, 2) taloudellinen tehokkuus ��� ohjauskeinon hy��dyt vs. kustannukset tulisi olla tasapainossa, 3) hyv��ksytt��vyys ��� ohjauskeinon t��ytyy olla hyv��ksytt��v�� asianosaisten ja my��s laajemman yhteiskunnan n��k��kulmasta katsottuna, 4) toimeenpano ��� ohjauskeinon toimeenpanon pit���� olla mahdollista ja sen noudattamista t��ytyy pysty�� valvomaan, 5) lateraaliset vaikutukset ��� hyv��ll�� ohjauskeinolla on positiivisia seurannaisvaikutuksia muutoinkin kuin vain ohjauskeinon ensisijaisten tavoitteiden saavuttaminen, 6) kannustin ja uuden luominen ��� hyv�� ohjauskeino kannustaa kokeilemaan uusia ratkaisuja ja kehitt��m����n toimintaa. Meriturvallisuutta koskevaa s����ntely�� on paljon ja yleisesti ottaen merionnettomuuksien lukum����r�� on ollut laskeva viime vuosikymmenien aikana. Suuri osa s����ntelyst�� on ollut tehokasta ja parantanut turvallisuuden tasoa maailman merill��. Silti merionnettomuuksia ja muita vaarallisia tapahtumia sattuu edelleen. Nykyist�� s����ntelyj��rjestelm���� voidaan kritisoida monen asian suhteen. Kansainv��lisen s����ntelyn aikaansaaminen ei ole helppoa: prosessi on yleens�� hidas ja tuloksena voi olla kompromissien kompromissi. Kansainv��linen s����ntely on yleens�� reaktiivista eli ongelmakohtiin puututaan vasta kun jokin onnettomuus tapahtuu sen sijaan ett�� se olisi proaktiivista ja pyrkisi puuttumaan ongelmakohtiin jo ennen kuin jotain tapahtuu. IMO:n ty��skentely perustuu kansallisvaltioiden osallistumiseen ja s����ntelyn toimeenpano tapahtuu lippuvaltioiden toimesta. Kansallisvaltiot ajavat IMO:ssa p����asiallisesti omia intressej����n ja s����ntelyn toimeenpanossa on suuria eroja lippuvaltioiden v��lill��. IMO:n kyvytt��myys puuttua havaittuihin ongelmiin nopeasti ja ottaa s����ntelyss�� huomioon paikallisia olosuhteita on johtanut siihen, ett�� esimerkiksi Euroopan Unioni on alkanut itse s����dell�� meriturvallisuutta ja ett�� on olemassa sellaisia alueellisia erityisj��rjestelyj�� kuin PSSA (particularly sensitive sea area ��� erityisen herkk�� merialue). Merenkulkualalla toimii monenlaisia yrityksi��: toisaalta yrityksi��, jotka pyrkiv��t toimimaan turvallisesti ja kehitt��m����n turvallisuutta viel�� korkeammalle tasolle, ja toisaalta yrityksi��, jotka toimivat niin halvalla kuin mahdollista, eiv��t v��lit�� turvallisuusseikoista, ja joilla usein on monimutkaiset ja ep��m����r��iset omistusolosuhteet ja joita vahingon sattuessa on vaikea saada vastuuseen. Ongelma on, ett�� kansainv��lisell�� merenkulkualalla kaikkien yritysten on toimittava samoilla markkinoilla. Vastuuttomien yritysten toiminnan mahdollistavat laivaajat ja muut alan toimijat, jotka suostuvat tekem����n yhteisty��t�� niiden kanssa. V��linpit��m��t��n suhtautuminen turvallisuuteen johtuu osaksi my��s merenkulun vanhoillisesta turvallisuuskulttuurista. Verrattaessa meriturvallisuuden s����ntelyj��rjestelm���� kokonaisuutena tehokkaiden ohjauskeinoihin kriteereihin, voidaan todeta, ett�� monien kriteerien osalta nykyist�� j��rjestelm���� voidaan pit���� tehokkaana ja onnistuneena. Suurimmat ongelmat lienev��t s����ntelyn toimeenpanossa ja ohjauskeinojen kustannustehokkuudessa. Lippuvaltioiden toimeenpanoon perustuva j��rjestelm�� ei toimi toivotulla tavalla, josta mukavuuslippujen olemassa olo on selvin merkki. Ohjauskeinojen, sek�� yksitt��isten ohjauskeinojen ett�� vertailtaessa eri ohjauskeinoja kesken����n, kustannustehokkuutta on usein vaikea arvioida, mink�� seurauksena ohjauskeinojen kustannustehokkuudesta ei ole saatavissa luotettavaa tietoa ja tuloksena voi olla, ett�� ohjauskeino on k��yt��nn��ss�� pienen riskin eliminoimista korkealla kustannuksella. Kansainv��lisen tason meriturvallisuus- (ja merenkulku-) politiikan menettelytavoiksi on ehdotettu my��s muita vaihtoehtoja kuin nykyinen j��rjestelm��, esimerkiksi monitasoista tai polysentrist�� hallintoj��rjestelm����. Monitasoisella hallintoj��rjestelm��ll�� tarkoitetaan j��rjestelm����, jossa keskushallinto on hajautettu sek�� vertikaalisesti alueellisille tasoille ett�� horisontaalisesti ei-valtiollisille toimijoille. Polysentrinen hallintoj��rjestelm�� menee viel�� askeleen pidemm��lle. Polysentrinen hallintoj��rjestelm�� on hallintotapa, jonka puitteissa kaikentyyppiset toimijat, sek�� yksityiset ett�� julkiset, voivat osallistua hallintoon, siis esimerkiksi hallitukset, edunvalvontaj��rjest��t, kaupalliset yritykset jne. Kansainv��linen lains����d��nt�� m����rittelee yleiset tasot, mutta konkreettiset toimenpiteet voidaan p����tt���� paikallisella tasolla eri toimijoiden v��lisess�� yhteisty��ss��. T��m��n tyyppisiss�� hallintoj��rjestelmiss�� merenkulkualan todellinen, kansainv��linen mutta toisaalta paikallinen, toimintaymp��rist�� tulisi otetuksi paremmin huomioon kuin j��rjestelm��ss��, joka perustuu kansallisvaltioiden kesken����n yhteisty��ss�� tekem����n s����ntelyyn. T��llainen muutos meriturvallisuuden hallinnassa vaatisi kuitenkin suurta periaatteellista suunnanmuutosta, jollaisen toteutumista ei voi pit���� kovin todenn��k��isen�� ainakaan lyhyell�� t��ht��imell��.

Environmental inFluences on the Adoption of Open Innovation: Analysis of Structural, Institutional and Cultural Impacts

The concept of open innovation has recently gained widespread attention, and is particularly relevant now as many firms endeavouring to implement open innovation, face different sets of challenges associated with managing it. Prior research on open innovation has focused on the internal processes dealing with open innovation implementation and the organizational changes, already taking place or yet required in companies order to succeed in the global open innovation market. Despite the intensive research on open innovation, the question of what influences its adoption by companies in different contexts has not received much attention in studies. To fill this gap, this thesis contribute to the discussion on open innovation influencing factors by bringing in the perspective of environmental impacts, i.e. gathering data on possible sources of external influences, classifying them and testing their systemic impact through conceptual system dynamics simulation model. The insights from data collection and conceptualization in modelling are used to answer the question of how the external environment affects the adoption of open innovation. The thesis research is presented through five research papers reflecting the method triangulation based study (conducted at initial stage as case study, later as quantitative analysis and finally as system dynamics simulation). This multitude of methods was used to collect the possible external influence factors and to assess their impact (on positive/negative scale rather than numerical). The results obtained throughout the thesis research bring valuable insights into understanding of open innovation influencing factors inside a firm���s operating environment, point out the balance required in the system for successful open innovation performance and discover the existence of tipping point of open innovation success when driven by market dynamics and structures. The practical implications on how firms and policy-makers can leverage environment for their potential benefits are offered in the conclusions.

Creating possibilities for collective creativity : Brokerage Functions in Practice-Based Innovation

In the network era, creative achievements like innovations are more and more often created in interaction among different actors. The complexity of today���s problems transcends the individual human mind, requiring not only individual but also collective creativity. In collective creativity, it is impossible to trace the source of new ideas to an individual. Instead, creative activity emerges from the collaboration and contribution of many individuals, thereby blurring the contribution of specific individuals in creating ideas. Collective creativity is often associated with diversity of knowledge, skills, experiences and perspectives. Collaboration between diverse actors thus triggers creativity and gives possibilities for collective creativity. This dissertation investigates collective creativity in the context of practice-based innovation. Practice-based innovation processes are triggered by problem setting in a practical context and conducted in non-linear processes utilising scientific and practical knowledge production and creation in cross-disciplinary innovation networks. In these networks diversity or distances between innovation actors are essential. Innovation potential may be found in exploiting different kinds of distances. This dissertation presents different kinds of distances, such as cognitive, functional and organisational which could be considered as sources of creativity and thus innovation. However, formation and functioning of these kinds of innovation networks can be problematic. Distances between innovating actors may be so great that a special interpretation function is needed ��� that is, brokerage. This dissertation defines factors that enhance collective creativity in practice-based innovation and especially in the fuzzy front end phase of innovation processes. The first objective of this dissertation is to study individual and collective creativity at the employee level and identify those factors that support individual and collective creativity in the organisation. The second objective is to study how organisations use external knowledge to support collective creativity in their innovation processes in open multi-actor innovation. The third objective is to define how brokerage functions create possibilities for collective creativity especially in the context of practice-based innovation. The research objectives have been studied through five substudies using a case-study strategy. Each substudy highlights various aspects of creativity and collective creativity. The empirical data consist of materials from innovation projects arranged in the Lahti region, Finland, or materials from the development of innovation methods in the Lahti region. The Lahti region has been chosen as the research context because the innovation policy of the region emphasises especially the promotion of practice-based innovations. The results of this dissertation indicate that all possibilities of collective creativity are not utilised in internal operations of organisations. The dissertation introduces several factors that could support collective creativity in organisations. However, creativity as a social construct is understood and experienced differently in different organisations, and these differences should be taken into account when supporting creativity in organisations. The increasing complexity of most potential innovations requires collaborative creative efforts that often exceed the boundaries of the organisation and call for the involvement of external expertise. In practice-based innovation different distances are considered as sources of creativity. This dissertation gives practical implications on how it is possible to exploit different kinds of distances knowingly. It underlines especially the importance of brokerage functions in open, practice-based innovation in order to create possibilities for collective creativity. As a contribution of this dissertation, a model of brokerage functions in practice-based innovation is formulated. According to the model, the results and success of brokerage functions are based on the context of brokerage as well as the roles, tasks, skills and capabilities of brokers. The brokerage functions in practice-based innovation are also possible to divide into social and cognitive brokerage.

Strategic Innovation Management Based on Three Dimensions

This thesis examines innovation development needs of firms in a remote rural region. The perspective of the study is in strategic innovation management and three dimensions of innovation development: innovation environment, value delivery and innovation capability. The framework is studied with a theoretical and methodological approach in the context of the development of a regional innovation system and the defining of innovation development needs. The thesis is based on existing innovation management literature, expanding it by examining the features of the three dimensions. The empirical data of the study comprise 50 purposefully selected firms within the region of Pielinen Karelia located in Eastern Finland. Most of the firms (70%) included in the study represent manufacturing firms, and over 90% are small and medium-sized enterprises. The research data consist of two questionnaires and an interview, which were done during 2011 in the connection of a regional development project. The point of view of the research is in regional development and harnessing the innovation capability of the firms within the region. The principal research approach applies soft systems methodology. The study explores the means to foster the innovativeness of firms from the viewpoints of innovation environment, innovation capability and value delivery. In closer detail, the study examines relations between the innovation capability factors, differences in innovation development needs within the value delivery system, between sectors and between firm size categories. The thesis offers three major contributions. First, the study extends earlier research on strategic innovation management by connecting the frameworks of innovation capability, innovation environment and value delivery process to the defining of innovation development needs at the regional level. The results deepen knowledge especially concerning practice-based innovation, peripheral regions and smaller firms. Second, the empirical work, based on a case study, confirms the existence of a structural connection integrating five factors of innovation capability. Statistical evidence is provided especially for the positive impacts of the improvement of absorption capability, marketing capability and networking capability, which are the main weaknesses of firms according to the study. Third, the research provides a methodological contribution by applying the innovation matrix in the defining of the innovation development needs of firms. The study demonstrates how the matrix improves possibility to target policy instruments and innovation services more efficiently through indicating significant differences between the innovation support needs regarding various time horizons and phases of innovation process.

The Role of Universities in the Triple Helix model of innovation management within the biotechnology industry, Case example: Turku Science Park Network

Biotechnology has been recognized as the key strategic technology for industrial growth. The industry is heavily dependent on basic research. Finland continues to rank in the top 10 of Europe's most innovative countries in terms of tax-policy, education system, infrastructure and the number of patents issued. Regardless of the excellent statistical results, the output of this innovativeness is below acceptable. Research on the issues hindering the output creation has already been done and the identifiable weaknesses in the Finland's National Innovation system are the non-existent growth of entrepreneurship and the missing internationalization. Finland is proven to have all the enablers of the innovation policy tools, but is lacking the incentives and rewards to push the enablers, such as knowledge and human capital, forward. Science Parks are the biggest operator in research institutes in the Finnish Science and Technology system. They exist with the purpose of speeding up the commercialization process of biotechnology innovations which usually include technological uncertainty, technical inexperience, business inexperience and high technology cost. Innovation management only internally is a rather historic approach, current trend drives towards open innovation model with strong triple helix linkages. The evident problems in the innovation management within the biotechnology industry are examined through a case study approach including analysis of the semi-structured interviews which included biotechnology and business expertise from Turku School of Economics. The results from the interviews supported the theoretical implications as well as conclusions derived from the pilot survey, which focused on the companies inside Turku Science Park network. One major issue that the Finland's National innovation system is struggling with is the fact that it is technology driven, not business pulled. Another problem is the university evaluation scale which focuses more on number of graduates and short-term factors, when it should put more emphasis on the cooperation success in the long-term, such as the triple helix connections with interaction and knowledge distribution. The results of this thesis indicated that there is indeed requirement for some structural changes in the Finland's National innovation system and innovation policy in order to generate successful biotechnology companies and innovation output. There is lack of joint output and scales of success, lack of people with experience, lack of language skills, lack of business knowledge and lack of growth companies.

Cross-Border Innovation Support Platform for the SMEs: The Case of St. Petersburg Corridor Region

Ty��ss�� tutkitaan eri mekanismeja rajojen ylitt��v����n innovaatioiden edist��miseen pienten ja keskisuurten yritysten n��k��kulmasta. Case ymp��rist��n�� on Kaakkois-Suomen ja Luoteis-Ven��j��n alueeli Pietarin Corridor. Tavoitteena on l��yt���� tarkemmat m����ritykset ja rajauksetn��ille mekanismeille. Teoriassa muodostettiin viitekehys rajojen ylitt��v��lle innovaatioiden edist��mismallille. Mallin pohjalta toteutettiinhaastattelututkimus, joka suoritettiin case-ymp��rist��ss��. Haastattelujoukko koostui yritysten edustajista, tutkimus-henkil��st��st�� sek�� julkisista toimijoista. Innovaatioj��rjestelm�� oli avoin uusille toimintamenetelmille.Menetelmien toteuttamistapa kuitenkin jakoi mielipiteit��. Toimijoiden v��lille tarvitaan parempaa yhteisty��t�� ja t��m��n kautta selke��mp���� kommunikointia yritysten suuntaan. Innovaatioiden edist��miseen ehdotetaan Innovation Relay Centre tyyppisen toiminnan laajentamista Corridorin alueelle sek�� sen k��ytt��m��n teknologioiden v��litt��mismallin sek�� kansainv��lisen verkoston hy��dynt��mist��. Edist��misen tukena tulisi k��ytt���� innovaatiotietokanta-ty��kalua.

Innovation Process Management and System Modelling

Ty��n tavoitteena oli perehty�� innovaatiojohtamisen ja j��rjestelm��n soveltamiseen prosessiteollisuuden toimintaymp��rist����n. Kirjallisuusl��hteit�� apuna k��ytt��en perehdyttiin liiketoimintaymp��rist��n innovaatiojohtamiselle asettamiin vaatimuksiin ja erilaisiin innovaatioj��rjestelmiin. Olennaisena osana innovaatiojohtamiseen liittyy sidosryhmien tarpeiden ja niiden tarjoamien resurssien huomioiminen toiminnassa. My��skin tuotekehityksen menetelm��t ja ty��kalut ovat omalta osaltaan merkitt��v��ss�� asemassa toiminnan tehokkuutta arvioitaessa. Innovaatioj��rjestelm�� tulee sopeuttaa yrityksen toimintoihin ja sen erityispiirteet huomioonottaen siten, ett�� toiminnan johtaminen prosessina tuo yritykselle ja sen sidosryhmille lis��arvoa. Innovaatioj��rjestelm��n luominen yritykselle on ainayksil��llinen prosessi ja siihen ei ole olemassa yleisp��tev���� menetelm����, joka voitaisiin ottaa k��ytt����n sellaisenaan. Yritys, jonka liiketoiminta keskittyy kuitupohjaisten pakkausmateriaalien valmistamiseen, joutuu t��ytt��m����n toiminnassaan materiaalintoimittajien, omien tuotantoprosessiensa ja asiakkaiden sek�� jopa loppuk��ytt��jien uusille tuotteille luomat odotukset. Innovaatiojohtamista s��vytt���� toiminnan tulosten suuri ep��varmuus ja sen vaativien aineellisten ja henkisten resurssien mittavuus. Innovaatiotoiminnan johtaminen prosessina, k��ytt��en hyv��ksi j��rjestelm��mallia, tavoittelee systemaattista ja asetettujen kriteerien t��ytt��m���� l��hestymistapaa tuotekehityksen ja uusien liiketoimintainnovaatioiden alueella. Kehitetyn mallin tulee palvella monimutkaista liiketoimintaymp��rist����, jokatoisaalta perustuu tehokkaaseen massatuotantoon ja toisaalta pyrkii erilaistumaan palvelemalla sek�� huomioimalla asiakkaidensa tuotteille asettamat vaatimukset.

Absorptiivinen kapasiteetti k��yt��nt��l��ht��isess�� innovaatiotoiminnassa P��ij��t-H��meess��

Tutkimuksessa arvioidaan millaisia kyvykkyyksi�� toimijoiltavaaditaan, jotta voidaan edist���� verkostoja palvelevan innovaatiopolitiikan toteutumista ja toteuttaa k��yt��nt��l��ht��ist�� innovaatiotoimintaa. Empiirinen osa tarkastelee P��ij��t-H��meen toimijoiden asenneymp��rist���� ja toimimisen valmiuksia k��yt��nt��l��ht��isen innovaatiotoiminnan tarpeisiin sopivaksi. Osaaminen ker����ntyy yliopistopaikkakunnille ulkoisten suurtuotannon etujen mukaisesti. Ne alueet, joilla ei ole yliopistoa joutuvat luomaan muunlaista innovaatiokyvykkyytt�� saavuttaakseen kilpailuetua. Siksi P��ij��t-H��meen visiona on tulla johtavaksi k��yt��nt��l��ht��isen innovaatiotoiminnan alueeksi hyvien toimintamallien ja tehokkaiden tiedonsiirtomekanismien avulla. T��m�� vaatii alueen toimijoilta mm. korkeaa absorptiivista kapasiteettia ja heikkoja linkkej�� alueen ulkopuolelle. Ty��n empiirinen osa koostuu 12:sta puolistrukturoidusta haastattelusta sek�� kyselytutkimuksesta. Tiedonluonti ja -siirto alueelle n��htiin p����asiassa tutkimusmaailman teht��v��n��, mutta varianssianalyysin perusteella tutkimusmaailma ei itse n��hnyt olevansa siin�� asemassa. Yhteisen kielen puuttuminen tutkimus- ja k��yt��nn��n ty��el��m��n v��lilt�� n��htiin puutteena.

Ranking Regional Innovation Policies: DEA-based Benchmarking in an European Setting

Seudullinen innovaatio on monimutkainen ilmi��, joka usein sijaitsee paikallisten toimijoiden keskin��isen vuorovaikutuksen kent��ss��. T��ten sit�� on perinteisesti pidetty vaikeasti mitattavana ilmi��n��. Ty��ss�� sovellettiin Data Envelopment Analysis menetelm����, joka on osoittautunut aiemmin menestyksekk����ksi tapauksissa, joissa mitattavien sy��tteiden ja tuotteiden v��liset suhteet eiv��t ole olleet ilmeisi��. Ty��ss�� luotiin konseptuaalinen malli seudullisen innovaation sy��tteist�� ja tuotteista, jonka perusteella valittiin 12 tilastollisen muuttujan mittaristo. K��ytt��en Eurostat:ia datal��hteen��, l��hdedata kahdeksaan muuttujsta saatiin seudullisella tasolla, sek�� mittaristoa t��ydennettiin yhdell�� kansallisella muuttujalla. Arviointi suoritettiin lopulta 45 eurooppalaiselle seudulle. Tutkimuksen painopiste oli arvioida DEA-menetelm��n soveltuvuutta innovaatioj��rjestelm��n mittaamiseen, sill�� menetelm���� ei ole aiemmin sovellettu vastaavassa tapauksessa. Ensimm��iset tulokset osoittivat ylip����t����n liiallisen korkeita tehokkuuslukuja. Korjaustoimenpiteit�� erottelutarkkuuden parantamiseksi esiteltiin ja sovellettiin, jonka j��lkeen saatiin realistisempia tuloksia ja ranking-lista arvioitavista seuduista. DEA-menetelm��n todettiin olevan tehokas ja kiinnostava ty��kalu arviointik��yt��nt��jen ja innovaatiopolitiikan kehitt��miseen, sik��li kun datan saatavuusongelmat saadaan ratkaistua sek�� itse mallia tarkennettua.