We describe collaboration networks consisting of research projects funded by the European Union (EU) and the organizations involved in those projects. The networks are substantial in terms of size, complexity, and potential impact on research policies and national economies in the EU. In empirical determinations of the network properties, we observe characteristics similar to those of other collaboration networks, including scale-free degree distributions, small diameter, and high clustering. We present some plausible models for the formation and structure of networks with the observed properties.

During the past 20 years, the world pharmaceutical industry has experienced a dramatic increase in R&D intensity. We apply and extend a model developed by Grabowski and Vernon (2000, Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 10, 201–215) with a pooled data sample of the 15 publicly listed Japanese drug firms for the period 1987–1998. As in the original study, we find expected returns to be an important determinant of R&D spending in the Japanese drug industry, albeit considerably smaller than in the U.S., which is particularly obvious in the case of returns from newly introduced drugs. However, our results are sensitive to econometric model specification, in particular to controlling for serial correlation and to a dynamic specification of the baseline model. Likewise, estimates on financial constraints are sensitive to model specification, indicating that Japanese drug firms face small or no financial constraints. Our results are consistent with the general literature on R&D investment behaviour, yet raise some methodological questions with regard to the original study. Copyright Springer 2006investment, Japan, panel data estimation, pharmaceuticals, R&D, L65, O31, O33,

We describe the construction of a large and novel data set on R&D collaboration networks in the first five EU Framework Programmes (FPs), examine key features and provide economic interpretations for our findings. The data set is based on publicly available raw data that presents numerous challenges. We critically examine the different problems and detail how we have dealt with them. We describe how we construct networks from the processed data. The resulting networks display properties typical for large complex networks, including scale-free degree distributions and the small-world property. The former indicates the presence of network hubs, which we identify. Theoretical work shows the latter to be beneficial for knowledge creation and diffusion. Structural features are remarkably similar across FPs, indicating similar network formation mechanisms despite changes in governance rules. Several findings point towards the existence of a stable core of interlinked actors since the early FPs with integration increasing over time. This core consists mainly of universities and research organisations. The paper concludes with an agenda for future research.JEL Classification: L14, O38, Z13

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Terms of use: Documents in AbstractThis paper presents some microevidence on the techno-economic consequences of Austrian VOC emission standards, the most restrictive of their kind in the world. Using firm-level survey data and complementing it with highly disaggregated foreign trade data, the paper explores whether the standards had a palpable impact on the competitiveness of Austrian manufacturers of paints, coatings, printing inks and adhesives, whether compliance stimulated innovation in this industry, whether the standards crowded out other, more productive R&D, and whether compliance efforts gave rise to unexpected benefits of compliance. It finds no unequivocal aggregate impact on the competitiveness of regulated firms, yet some interesting variation at the firm-level. However, the standards appear to have dampened import competition. The standards gave rise to considerable changes in firms' product range and appear to have accelerated the rate of product innovation in the regulated industry. R&D spending to develop compliant products is found to be very unevenly distributed, mainly due to technological to a lesser extent organisational factors. There is evidence that compliance efforts displaced or postponed existing R&D projects. However, there is also evidence that search for compliant products yielded unexpected and beneficial ideas, knowledge and competencies.JEL Classification: F14, F18, K32, L65, O31

Most empirical evidence indicates that the costs of environmental regulation represent a minor fraction of total production costs. This finding is at odds with the assumption of stringent environmental regulation of both propo-nents and opponents of the 'Porter Hypothesis'. A possible explanation may be provided by examining the nego-tiation of environmental regulation in a 'political market'. In this market, stakeholder attempt to ensure their pre-ferred level of stringency through influencing political decision makers. In most cases, the equilibrium stringency will require pollution abatement levels that can be met with best available technology (BAT) or predictable ad-vances over BAT. Accordingly, net benefits from environmental regulation as claimed by a 'strong version' of the 'Porter Hypothesis' are unlikely to emerge. On the other hand, competitiveness is equally unlikely to suffer. How-ever, compliance may impose disproportionate costs on technological laggards. The argument is illustrated with evidence from a study on the techno-economic consequences of Austrian VOC emission standards.