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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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    11. 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).
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    20. Hugo Ernesto Martínez Ardila & Julián Eduardo Mora Moreno & Jaime Alberto Camacho Pico, 2020. "Networks of collaborative alliances: the second order interfirm technological distance and innovation performance," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 1255-1282, August.
    21. He, Xi-jun & Dong, Yan-bo & Wu, Yu-ying & Jiang, Guo-rui & Zheng, Yao, 2019. "Factors affecting evolution of the interprovincial technology patent trade networks in China based on exponential random graph models," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 514(C), pages 443-457.
    22. 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.
    23. 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.
    24. 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.
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