Clusters, innovation systems and ecosystems - Studies on innovation policy’s concept evolution and approaches for regional renewal
Rinkinen, Satu (2016-12-16)
Väitöskirja
Rinkinen, Satu
16.12.2016
Lappeenranta University of Technology
Acta Universitatis Lappeenrantaensis
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-335-035-9
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-335-035-9
Tiivistelmä
Societies and national and regional economies face several challenges that set needs for
new solutions and new innovations. Innovation policy aims at strengthening the
competitiveness of economies in order to increase wider societal welfare through
economic development. During past decades several innovation policy related concepts
have been developed and utilized in innovation policy practice. However, the rich concept
evolution has also led to a situation where different concepts are used in policy dialogue
without making clear distinction between them and without deeper analysis of what these
concepts mean for policy-making practice. The aim of this dissertation is to help fill the
gap between theory and practice and provide new insights to the concept evolution of
innovation policy approaches and to regional renewal processes in the context of
innovation theory and concepts developed and utilized thus far. This research deals with
perspectives of place-based policy, sustainability, foresight, business and innovation
ecosystems, and creating new radical and niche innovations. Three key concepts – the
cluster concept, the innovation system concept and the ecosystem concept – were
examined through these perspectives.
This dissertation consists of six sub-studies. The first one is a conceptual study based on
research literature and a literature review. The following five studies are empirical studies
that utilized data consisting of literature, policy documents and reports, observation data,
interviews and a questionnaire. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis
and three of the studies also utilised case study approach.
Previous developments in innovation policy field and different innovation policy
approaches such as cluster approach and innovation systems approach have created a
strong basis for innovation activities and policy practices. Previous advancements and
policy learning in innovation policy field provide a good basis to utilize existing
theoretical approaches in practice, but the implementation of these approaches requires
special attention. Regional renewal can be enhanced by different means and through
different approaches. The results of this research present social sustainability and futureoriented
thinking as potential approaches for enhancing regional renewal. These approaches are also closely connected to the ecosystem-based innovation policy that can
be viewed as a new type of innovation policy approach. The results present a conceptual
framework for ecosystem-based innovation policy that perceives the need for constant
evolutionary and emergent change that begins from the grass roots level and also
recognizes the possibilities of influencing on this change through intentional policymaking.
Finally, as a synthesis of the results, this dissertation presents a general view of the
perspectives on future innovation policy and different evolution paths of innovation
policy concepts. Based on the results, future innovation policy could better take into
account, encourage and direct towards sustainability and future-oriented anticipatory
culture, not only in companies but also in other organisations and in policy-making.
Future-oriented thinking also includes learning from the past and utilizing the lessons
learned as building blocks in future policy-making. Also, policy thinking that
acknowledges the need for a wider systemic transition and is willing to make room for it
in the form of supporting policies is needed. Policy concepts are born and developed
through different paths. The content and use of policy concepts can be intentionally
shaped based on the needs rising from the grass roots level. Widely used concepts are
renewed and new elements and perspectives are included. New concepts can be adapted
to policy practice as ‘forced’ concepts defined by upper level policy actors. Research can
also develop new concepts through theory, empirical research and scientific
argumentation to policy practice.
This dissertation research contributes to innovation research by bringing new perspectives
to the examination of innovation policy. Also, it presents an overview of some of the
needs of reformulation of the current innovation policy. The most significant novelty
value of this research is the introduction of the business and innovation ecosystem
concepts in the context of innovation policy, which presents a new perspective to the
innovation policy research theory. This research sets light on the changes facing
innovation policy and the results build a framework for innovation policy that takes into
account these changes and rests on ecosystem-based thinking which also considers the
relevance of place, future oriented thinking, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
new solutions and new innovations. Innovation policy aims at strengthening the
competitiveness of economies in order to increase wider societal welfare through
economic development. During past decades several innovation policy related concepts
have been developed and utilized in innovation policy practice. However, the rich concept
evolution has also led to a situation where different concepts are used in policy dialogue
without making clear distinction between them and without deeper analysis of what these
concepts mean for policy-making practice. The aim of this dissertation is to help fill the
gap between theory and practice and provide new insights to the concept evolution of
innovation policy approaches and to regional renewal processes in the context of
innovation theory and concepts developed and utilized thus far. This research deals with
perspectives of place-based policy, sustainability, foresight, business and innovation
ecosystems, and creating new radical and niche innovations. Three key concepts – the
cluster concept, the innovation system concept and the ecosystem concept – were
examined through these perspectives.
This dissertation consists of six sub-studies. The first one is a conceptual study based on
research literature and a literature review. The following five studies are empirical studies
that utilized data consisting of literature, policy documents and reports, observation data,
interviews and a questionnaire. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis
and three of the studies also utilised case study approach.
Previous developments in innovation policy field and different innovation policy
approaches such as cluster approach and innovation systems approach have created a
strong basis for innovation activities and policy practices. Previous advancements and
policy learning in innovation policy field provide a good basis to utilize existing
theoretical approaches in practice, but the implementation of these approaches requires
special attention. Regional renewal can be enhanced by different means and through
different approaches. The results of this research present social sustainability and futureoriented
thinking as potential approaches for enhancing regional renewal. These approaches are also closely connected to the ecosystem-based innovation policy that can
be viewed as a new type of innovation policy approach. The results present a conceptual
framework for ecosystem-based innovation policy that perceives the need for constant
evolutionary and emergent change that begins from the grass roots level and also
recognizes the possibilities of influencing on this change through intentional policymaking.
Finally, as a synthesis of the results, this dissertation presents a general view of the
perspectives on future innovation policy and different evolution paths of innovation
policy concepts. Based on the results, future innovation policy could better take into
account, encourage and direct towards sustainability and future-oriented anticipatory
culture, not only in companies but also in other organisations and in policy-making.
Future-oriented thinking also includes learning from the past and utilizing the lessons
learned as building blocks in future policy-making. Also, policy thinking that
acknowledges the need for a wider systemic transition and is willing to make room for it
in the form of supporting policies is needed. Policy concepts are born and developed
through different paths. The content and use of policy concepts can be intentionally
shaped based on the needs rising from the grass roots level. Widely used concepts are
renewed and new elements and perspectives are included. New concepts can be adapted
to policy practice as ‘forced’ concepts defined by upper level policy actors. Research can
also develop new concepts through theory, empirical research and scientific
argumentation to policy practice.
This dissertation research contributes to innovation research by bringing new perspectives
to the examination of innovation policy. Also, it presents an overview of some of the
needs of reformulation of the current innovation policy. The most significant novelty
value of this research is the introduction of the business and innovation ecosystem
concepts in the context of innovation policy, which presents a new perspective to the
innovation policy research theory. This research sets light on the changes facing
innovation policy and the results build a framework for innovation policy that takes into
account these changes and rests on ecosystem-based thinking which also considers the
relevance of place, future oriented thinking, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
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