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

WHITE SPACES INNOVATION IN SWEDEN3.4 Strategic Platform Management ModelsIn developing the narrative based upon the accounts provided of state-of–the-art practicein Sweden‟s regional clusters it is important to recognise that diversity in the economyis expressed in variety of strategic management approach. To help the narrativealong, we identify four strategic transversality management approaches or styles that wehave found to inform regional innovation system management in Sweden at this relativelyearly stage in this innovation system policy specification process. The first ofthese is already reasonably settled as both an hypothesis and a practice as represented inthe Skåne approach indicated in Fig. 3.11. As may be seen, this is currently representedby the „infinity sign ∞.3.4.1 ‘Infinity’ Innovation Platform Management ModelGrand Challenges have been focused on two arenas; Sustainability and Healthcare.However, these have been operationalised as „Sustainable Cities‟, on the one hand, and„Personal Healthcare‟ on the other. Respectively these integrate such regional clusters as„Sustainable Hub‟, „New Materials‟, „Logistics‟ and „Training Regions‟. Personalhealth connects such clusters as „Food Academy‟, Life Science‟, „Mobile Heights‟ and„Media Evolution‟ with overlapping clusters between the two main arenas as necessary.Accordingly, Grand Challenges have been „translated‟ through „Innovation Union‟transversality to build integrated innovation platforms from the specialised elementscontained in Skåne‟s regional clusters. Future evolution of this „infinity‟ structure maymove the innovation system forwards in terms of „speciation‟ where a new Grand Challenge(e.g. water resource management or renewable energy) might emerge, or mutation,where existing elements from the two main foci merge to form a new one such asHealthcare Bioelectronics. It is accordingly a flexible but focused management methodologyfor searching out innovation „white spaces‟ within and between the main hubs ofthe dynamic „Infinity‟ perspective.3.4.2 ‘Hub’ Innovation Platform Management ModelAn innovation platform management model that focuses upon a single high-varietycapabilities hub is represented in the case of the Processum biorefinery hub atÖrnsköldsvik in Region Norrland, Angermanland province. Its innovative applicationsare focused mainly on the Grand Challenges of Energy and Healthcare but include textiles,paints and food ingredients.61