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Proximity and collaboration in European nanotechnology

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  • Scott W. Cunningham
  • Claudia Werker

Abstract

Collaborations are particularly important for the development and deployment of technology. We analyse the influence of organizational, technological and geographical proximity on European nanotechnology collaborations with the help of a publication dataset and additional geographical information. While organizational proximity influences the output of collaborations only indirectly, geographical and technological proximity do so directly. Geographical proximity is most significant in statistical terms and technological proximity has the highest magnitude of effect. Consequently, the latter lends itself most for management and policy interventions, for example, by providing information on technological specialization of potential partners. Resumen Las colaboraciones son especialmente importantes para el desarrollo y el despliegue tecnológico. Se analiza la influencia de la proximidad organizacional, tecnológica y geográfica en colaboraciones europeas en nanotecnología, con la ayuda de un conjunto de datos publicados e información geográfica adicional. Si bien la proximidad organizacional influye en el resultado de las colaboraciones solo de manera indirecta, las proximidades geográfica y tecnológica influyen directamente. La proximidad geográfica es la más significativa en términos estadísticos y la proximidad tecnológica tiene la magnitud del efecto más elevada. Consecuentemente, esta última se presta más a las intervenciones de gestión y de políticas, por ejemplo, facilitando información sobre la especialización tecnológica de socios potenciales.

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  • Scott W. Cunningham & Claudia Werker, 2012. "Proximity and collaboration in European nanotechnology," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 91(4), pages 723-742, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:presci:v:91:y:2012:i:4:p:723-742
    DOI: 10.1111/pirs.2012.91.issue-4
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    7. Claudia Werker & Vladimir Korzinov & Scott Cunningham, 2019. "Formation and output of collaborations: the role of proximity in German nanotechnology," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 697-719, April.
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    16. Tamás Sebestyén & Orsolya Hau-Horváth & Attila Varga, 2017. "How to get from the periphery into the core? The role of geographical location and scientific performance in network position in the field of neuroscience," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 297-325, October.
    17. Fengchao Liu & Na Zhang & Cong Cao, 2017. "An evolutionary process of global nanotechnology collaboration: a social network analysis of patents at USPTO," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(3), pages 1449-1465, June.
    18. Islam, Nazrul & Gyoshev, Stanley & Amona, Daniel, 2020. "External complexities in discontinuous innovation-based R&D projects: Analysis of inter-firm collaborative partnerships that lead to abundance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    19. Emerson Gomes Santos & Renato Garcia & Veneziano Araujo & Suelene Mascarini & Ariana Costa, 2021. "Spatial and non‐spatial proximity in university–industry collaboration: Mutual reinforcement and decreasing effects," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 1249-1261, August.
    20. Bastien Bernela & Rachel Levy, 2014. "Collaboration networks in a French cluster: do partners really interact with each other?," Working Papers hal-00995175, HAL.
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    22. Cristina Caterina Amitrano & Marco Tregua & Tiziana Russo Spena & Francesco Bifulco, 2018. "On Technology in Innovation Systems and Innovation-Ecosystem Perspectives: A Cross-Linking Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-15, October.
    23. Kristin Kronenberg & Kati Volgmann, 2014. "Knowledge-intensive employment change in the Dutch Randstad and the German Rhine-Ruhr area: comparable patterns of growth and decline in two metropolitan regions?," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 34(1), pages 39-60, February.
    24. Bastien Bernela & Rachel Levy, 2014. "Modalities of coordination inside innovative collaborative projects: between face-to-face interactions and interactions at a distance [Modalités de coordination de projets collaboratifs pour l'inno," Working Papers halshs-01085016, HAL.
    25. Blanca De-Miguel-Molina & Scott W. Cunningham & Fernando Palop, 2017. "Analyzing Funding Patterns and Their Evolution in Two Medical Research Topics," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(02), pages 1-39, April.

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