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Policy induced innovation networks: the case of the German "Leading-Edge Cluster competition"

Author

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  • Uwe Cantner

    (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena)

  • Holger Graf

    (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena)

  • Susanne Hinzmann

    (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena)

Abstract

The last decades saw a pronounced shift in innovation policy in Germany and many other countries towards increased funding of cooperative R&D. Over the last years, competitions between regional initiatives pushed this trend even further by adding a regional perspective, by increasing the scope of funding, and by fostering interaction between a large number of actors. In 2008 the German ministry for education and research (BMBF) started the "Leading-Edge Cluster competition" ("Spitzencluster-Wettbewerb") in which 15 clusters were selected in three waves (2008, 2010, 2012) and are funded for a five-year period with up to 40 million Euro each. Our paper presents selected results regarding the influence of government funding on cooperation networks within five of the clusters that were successful in the first wave of the "Spitzencluster- Wettbewerb". More specifically, we analyse the extent of policy influence on the network of most important cooperation partners, its geographic reach, and the changes of network structure in general. Our empirical analysis is based on original data that was collected in 2011 with cluster actors (firms and public research) who received government funding. Our results indicate that the program was quite effective in initiating new cooperations between cluster actors and in intensifying existing linkages. The vast majority of the linkages which are influenced by the cluster competition are between actors located in the cluster region. With respect to the influence of the cluster competition on network structure, we find an increase in network centralization. Small and medium sized enterprises used the chance to connect with the local 'stars', but not as much among each other.

Suggested Citation

  • Uwe Cantner & Holger Graf & Susanne Hinzmann, 2013. "Policy induced innovation networks: the case of the German "Leading-Edge Cluster competition"," Jena Economics Research Papers 2013-008, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2013-008
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    Cited by:

    1. David Ayrapetyan & Frans Hermans, 2020. "Introducing a Multiscalar Framework for Biocluster Research: A Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, May.
    2. Stefan Töpfer & Uwe Cantner & Holger Graf, 2019. "Structural dynamics of innovation networks in German Leading-Edge Clusters," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1816-1839, December.
    3. Michael Rothgang & Bernhard Lageman & Anne-Marie Scholz, 2021. "Why are there so few hard facts about the impact of cluster policies in Germany? A critical review of evaluation studies," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 105-139, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cluster; Innovation Policy; Evaluation; Social Network Analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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