Public Action and Innovation-Support Institutions in New Technological Agglomerations

Abstract

In all industrial and technological agglomerations several types of public and semi-public actors coexist. The same happens with the levels of government. Consequently, the daily reality of agglomerations is characterized by a wide diversity of innovation-support institutions more or less actively engaged in enhancing the technological capabilities and knowledge flow of the territory. Taking this consideration as a starting point, the article presents the dynamics of the technological agglomeration of the Vallès Occidental County, located within Catalonia, Spain. It has supplied information on the major efforts of different public actors in the territory since the 1980s, mainly through the establishment and enhancement of innovation-support institutions, and analyses succinctly their effects through selected successful and failed cases. Two normative statements are suggested from the analysis. The first is that policy strategies should not try to be hegemonic. Instead, they should be elaborated seeking complementarity and coexistence. A second normative conclusion is the necessity of fostering the learning processes within and across institutions, by mobilizing collectively the assets of the area into an open explicit option for the economic performance of the territory. The conclusions include a final plea for further research about the industrial dynamics and knowledge flows in the Vallès Occidental County, an important growth pole of Catalonia.

Endogenous development and institutions: Challenges for local development initiatives

“…Thus, when the territorial development objectives are changed and the actions are focused toward other goals, conflicts of interests between the local actors arise, which affect the forces of development and reduce the capital accumulation process. The work of Bacarı´a et al (2002) on innovation support instruments in Catalonia points out that when no conflict of interest exists, as is the case in the technological centers previously mentioned, fostering the productive activity within the territory is possible. Yet, when disagreement between the actors on technological parks exists, and above all, when cooperation between the research centers of the central administration and of the autonomous communities does not exist, the chances for local development are seriously hindered.…”

Modes of innovation in the Canadian wine industry

“…Knowledge can be disseminated directly by the organizations, or indirectly through publications and conferences, by licensing patents, as well as by actively offering technological resources such as testing, measurement and certification laboratories. Finally, government and other public sector agencies and programs can enhance firms' capabilities and performance (Bacaria et al, 2002).…”

Exploring and comparing innovation patterns across different knowledge intensive business services

“…Knowledge can be disseminated directly by the organisations, or indirectly through publications and conferences, by licensing patents, as well as by actively offering technological resources, such as testing, measurement, and certification laboratories. The role of public sectors and agencies can be linked to programmes, service delivery, and support operations that enhance existing firms' capabilities and performance (Bacaria, Borràs, and Fernandez-Ribas 2002).…”