White Spaces Innovation in Sweden - Innovation policy for ... - Vinnova

WHITE SPACES INNOVATION IN SWEDENextracts developed in Sweden by UppsalaBIO. In Fig. 3.3 we see the most importantconnective elements summarised in Table 3.1 translated into a general complex regionalinnovation framework designed to capture the main forces policy-makers need tounderstand in the foreseeable context of global and local turbulence, transversality andtransition out of the multiple crises with which they and their constituents are faced.In what follows in the space available, we will first summarise a number of stylisedcases of „value variety‟ in action in circumstances where regional relatedness is beingstimulated by a „transversality‟ policy approach to identify regional opportunities forinnovation. In this regard, markets do not necessarily show themselves to be „small andfast‟ adaptive resilience systems and public-private innovation agencies perform thepath-interdependence role. In most of the live examples „preadaptation‟ is being exploited,not least because it is easier to spot in the arenas or „research-based theatres‟such innovation intermediaries create (Pässilä, & Oikarinen, 2010). In the more ambitiousexemplar, discussed longitudinally (Region Skåne) the adjacent possible is beingexplored in a variety of ways.3.2 Preadaptation Exemplars3.2.1 Bayern InnovativSince 1995 such a model is found in Bayern (Bavaria) Germany as summarised belowand focused upon the platform-building activities of Bayern Innovativ a governanceagency for regional development (Fig.3.4) based in Nürnberg. Here the agency identifiedkey industries that were beneficiaries of cluster policy paid for by Bavaria‟s resourcewindfall when it sold its share in the regional energy supplier. These were crosstabulatedagainst key technologies to find the inter-disciplinary and inter- industry innovationpotentials of „related variety‟ in the regional economy. Many innovations (onaverage 10%) have ensued from the over 1,000 per year „conversations‟ facilitated betweenneighbouring sectors concerning technological co-operations, applications andresulting innovations. Part of the new platform thinking involved recognition of theimportance of enhancing „preadaptation‟ among clusters by creating an „innovationtheatre‟ where innovations from one industry could be shown to representatives of differentindustries for them to assess the knowledge transfer and recombination potentialof specific technology applications.‟Storytelling is perceived as a crucial feature if theknowledge cross-fertilisation process. It takes the form of organising occasional largeconferences of interest to members from a wide variety of industry sectors and clusters.For these, what is referred to as a „red thread‟ narrative is provided such that differentactual and potential innovation elements are woven into a coherent narrative. Thus a„red thread‟ theme for a conference might be Living Lighter. This would appeal to representativesfrom agro-food, medical care and technology, automotive and other engineeringseeking to reduce content weight of products, energy companies etc. The list is40