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- Dynamics of knowledge production and technology diffusion: Insights from the emergence of wind energyPublication . Sousa, Cristina; Bento, Nuno; Fontes, MargaridaThe objective of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the relation between the dynamics of knowledge production and technology diffusion along the process of emergence of a new technology, as it unfolds in diverse spatial locations. For this purpose, the paper traces the process of knowledge production over time – expressed in the number of scientific publications - and assesses how its dynamics relate with those of technology up-scaling and diffusion, for the case of a new renewable energy technology: wind power. It also compares these processes in different spatial areas, looking at similarities and differences in the evolving patterns, in initial markets and follower regions. In order to trace the dynamics of knowledge production we conduct a bibliometric analysis, using data collected from the Thomson Reuters Web of Science database (for the period 1970-2012). In order to trace the diffusion dynamics we use data collected on both unit scale of turbines and installed capacity of wind power (starting in late 1970s), following the empirical scaling methodology. These analyses are conducted at global scale and, subsequently, at a regional scale, for a pioneer (Denmark) and a fast follower (Portugal). The comparison of the outcomes from the bibliometric and the technology growth analyses permits to understand the rhythm and order in which knowledge was created and applied in this particular innovation. It also provides a preliminary account of the interplay between pioneer and fast follower regions.
- The role of research-based spin-offs in innovation ecosystemsPublication . Conceição, Oscarina; Sousa, Cristina; Fontes, MargaridaABSTRACT: The objective of the paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the various roles played by research-based spin-offs (RBSOs) in knowledge dissemination. It investigates if RBSOs act as connectors and knowledge translators, both between different types of organisations within an innovation ecosystem and across different geographical scales and knowledge environments. This latter role has been relatively less investigated but is important to open local innovation ecosystems. The paper analyses the networks formed by Portuguese RBSOs in the context of research, technology and product development projects. The results suggest that RBSOs play an intermediary role in the country's innovation ecosystem, which can assume different forms. In the national networks, they frequently bridge research and downstream organisations, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge within the ecosystem. In the international networks, their most important role may be as connectors and conveyors of advanced knowledge produced in external knowledge environments
- Redes sociais e empreendedorismo em biotecnologia : o processo de clusterização em torno de núcleos regionais de produção de conhecimentoPublication . Fontes, Margarida; Sousa, Cristina; Videira, PedroEste artigo3 aborda a aglomeração de novas empresas de biotecnologia em torno de núcleos de produção de conhecimento, centrando-se no papel das redes sociais no acesso ao conhecimento científico e tecnológico. A abordagem toma em consideração o impacto de várias formas de proximidade – geográfica, social, cognitiva e organizacional – no desenvolvimento de relações chave e na sua utilização para obter conhecimento científico e tecnológico. Tal permite aferir a importância relativa de fontes de conhecimento próximas e distantes e explicar as decisões tomadas pelos empreendedores em termos de mobilização das redes que lhes dão acesso. Na exploração empírica recorre-se a uma metodologia para reconstruir as redes sociais e medir os diferentes tipos de proximidade.
- Transformative mechanisms in decarbonization policies: a structured approachPublication . Sousa, Cristina; Fontes, Margarida; Bento, NunoABSTRACT: The transition to a low-carbon society should accelerate to avoid an increase in the temperatures above 1.5º to 2ºC, and this is unlikely to occur without policy intervention (IPCC, 2022). Given the complexity of the problem, recent debates have increasingly pointed to the need of adopting a new, broader view on policy intervention (Weber and Rohracher, 2012; Hekkert et al., 2020). This entails a move beyond a single focus on economic competitiveness and growth and towards a focus on societal problems or “grand challenges”, leading to the emergence of the concept of transformative innovation policy (Schot and Steinmueller 2018; Dierks et al., 2019). This new rationale implies the consideration of a much broader range of policy objectives, targets and instruments, as well as the notion that a mix of policies needs to be deployed to achieve the desired goals (Rogge and Reichardt, 2016).
- Towards a Blue Economy: the influence of policy strategies in the research and technology orientation of Portuguese organisationsPublication . Sousa, Cristina; Fontes, Margarida; Conceição, Oscarina; Alessandro de NiscoABSTRACT: The “Blue Economy” was strategically identified as a driver of European growth, through the development of new competences and activities that enable a sustainable exploitation of ocean resources. Research and innovation policies oriented to the Blue Economy, at both European and country levels, can be described as attempts at “mission-oriented” policies, which seek to influence the direction of growth towards sustainable transformative change in the ocean area. The objective of this paper is to analyse the directions followed by the research and technological development (RTD) activities conducted by Portuguese firms in order to understand whether the strategies and policies aiming at the development of the Blue Economy are being effective in their endeavour of steering such development in certain directions, thus creating conditions for a sustainable transformation in ocean related areas. The results provide some evidence of the role being performed by RTD promoted by these policies towards a transformative change in ocean related activities. Particularly, they show that they are contributing to: i) the generation of new areas and the revitalisation of existing sectors, through the creation and exploitation of new technological opportunities; and ii) a sustainable use of resources and the mitigation of negative environmental effects created by previous activities. Moreover, the results show intense interaction between different types of organisations. Particularly, they show that new technology intensive firms and industries are working together with existing firms from traditional sectors to exploit the new opportunities and technologies. The evidence suggests processes of cross fertilisation and technological upgrading of traditional activities, through the interaction in the RTD projects funded by clearly targeted public policies.
- Types of proximity in knowledge access by science-based start-upsPublication . Fontes, Margarida; Sousa, CristinaThis paper addresses the strategies adopted by science-based start-ups to gain access to knowledge resources at different spatial levels. The goal of the paper is to investigate the presence and relative importance of ties endowed with different types of proximity in firms’ knowledge networks, as well as the role played by non-geographical proximity in gaining access to knowledge sources, both located nearby and at a distance. For this purpose we develop an analytical framework that permits to distinguish between two dimensions of proximity: geographical, associated with the spatial location of the actor; relational, associated with the origin of the tie – leading to different modes of proximity that are further linked with modes of knowledge access (formal or informal). We also develop a methodology to reconstruct the knowledge networks, permitting to identify origin, location and nature of the ties and to position them along modes of proximity. The results show that the incidence and mix of these modes of proximity vary in firms’ individual networks, being possible to identify different patterns of knowledge access. But they also uncover the overall relevance of “relational proximity”, whether or not coexisting with geographical proximity and often compensating for its absence. The paper contributes to our understanding of knowledge access strategies of science-based start-ups and uncovers the spatial spanning role played by the entrepreneurs’ personal networks.
- Building innovation networks in science-based young firms: the selection of knowledge sourcesPublication . Sousa, Cristina; Fontes, MargaridaThe paper investigates the strategic choices made by young science-based firms regarding the selection of knowledge sources. Data collected on Portuguese biotechnology firms are analysed with a view to answer to two research questions: whether, to what extent and in which conditions science-based entrepreneurs activate their social capital and/or build new knowledge relationships at start-up; whether and to what extent the knowledge relationships established at start-up persist and/or the firm builds relationships with new organisations. The results confirm the importance attributed to tie persistence but they also show that science-based firms need to search for new knowledge sources from the very early stages. Thus, their start-up behaviour departs from the one often depicted by the entrepreneurship literature, that emphasises the mobilisation of the entrepreneurs' social capital. Results also show that persistence of ties established at start-up is lower than would be expected.
- The entry strategies of research-based firms in the transition to a sustainable energy systemPublication . Fontes, Margarida; Sousa, CristinaABSTRACT: The paper discusses the entry strategies adopted by research-based firms introducing advanced renewable energy technologies (RET) in the electricity production sector and their interactions with regime incumbents. Drawing on the sustainability transitions and the strategic management of technology literatures we build an analytical framework and apply it, in an exploratory way, to firms operating in two very diverse energy niches – wind and wave energy – using in depth-case studies. The results suggest that new entrants tend to depend on complementary assets possessed by incumbents, but have conditions to protect their technologies from expropriation; and that the technologies are relevant for (at least some) incumbents, which show interest on them, or are directly involved in their development/use. This is, in most cases, conducive to ‘cooperation’ strategies, which assume different forms according to the stage of development of the technology and its proximity to incumbents’ competences and assets.
- The spatial dynamics of niche trajectory: the case of wave energyPublication . Fontes, Margarida; Sousa, Cristina; Ferreira, J.This paper proposes that niches, as protected spaces where technologies are developed and articulated with societal needs, transcend territorial boundaries, encompassing communities and actions that span several spatial levels. To support this assertion, the paper builds on the socio-cognitive perspective to niche development and extends it, introducing a new dimension – space – thus broadening and “spatializing” the concept of technological niche. This framework is applied to the case of wave energy. Empirical research combines a generic analysis of the construction of an “overall niche space” with a detailed analysis of the processes taking place in Portugal, which was one of the pioneers in the emerging field. The results confirm the niche multi-spatial dynamics, showing that it is shaped by the interplay between a niche relational space constructed by actors’ actions and interactions, and the territorial effects introduced by their embeddedness in particular geographical and institutional settings.
- The role of entrepreneurs social networks in the creation and early development of biotechnology companiesPublication . Sousa, Cristina; Videira, Pedro; Fontes, MargaridaThe main research question addressed in this paper concerns the way entrepreneurs’ social networks affect the opportunity identification and the access and mobilization of resources in a science-based field – biotechnology - facilitating the founding of new firms. For this purpose we adopted an analytical framework combining contributions from the technological entrepreneurship and the social network literature and, on this basis, we proposed: i) that entrepreneurs social networks, both those associated with their academic and professional trajectories and those intentionally build already having the firm as a goal, are critical to access the wide range of resources necessary to create a new firm in this type of field; ii) that different network configurations are associated with the access and mobilisation of different types of resources. We developed a methodology that combines several methods usually applied separately and that permits to assemble of a vast array of data capturing the nature and contents of a wide range of relationships. This methodology was applied to a sub-set of the Portuguese biotechnology industry – the molecular biology firms. Globally this research provides evidence that contributes to on-going debates in the area of social networks and entrepreneurship, both at the methodological and empirical levels. At this stage the main contribution regards the development of a methodology that was found to offer important insights into the behaviour of science-based entrepreneurs in their search for key resources for firm formation. The results obtained, although still exploratory, already provide some indications concerning the conditions for biotechnology entrepreneurship in countries that are peripheral relative to the major concentrations of biotechnology knowledge and business.