L O B A L INNO V A TION NETW ORKS

Sujets

• Économie
• Economy

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• Publié par: paul.vallen
• Nombre de lectures: 17
• Langue: English

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Global innovation networks

and the role of emerging countries

R&D has now entered the globalization age. Since the 1990s, R&D activities have internationalized and have become more mobile. Although it has taken longer than with other corporate functions, R&D Internationalization is henceforth governed by similar determinants and dynamics, where supply and demand come into play.R&D is a service activity which, like manufacturing, tends to be fragmented and networked, a process in which the emerging countries are playing an increasingly important role.Until recently, R&D was viewed as difficult to decentralize, because it is linked to different types of corporate strategic information and encompasses exchanges of tacit knowledge.Nevertheless, advances in the field of ICTs and structural changes in companies and markets have led to the fragmentation and outsourcing of some R&D activities.In recent years, this tendency has gained momentum and become more widespread, particularly as emerging countries have been integrated into the world innovation networks forged by the multinationals.

Various studies and recent reports point toan increase in the number of new R&D facilities in emerging countries.of 1773 R&D investments abroad Out that were listed by a world database, more than 60% (1095) were located in developing countries.According to a 2005 UNCTAD survey, by 2009 China is set to become the leading venue for multinational research, ahead of the United th States and India; France is in 7place, behind Russia.Emerging countries account for the bulk of new R&D facilities. Is this a foreign investment “bubble” in some countries like China, or does it reflect a lasting redistribution of firms R&D capacities? Theestablishment of more R&D centers in emerging countries seems to have come at Western Europe’s expense, whereas the new EU members are also attracting R&D. Will this trend be borne out, or will some current public policies be efficient to attract more new R&D facilities?

The answers to these questions must lie in a study of companies’ activities in their R&D centers, and hence in an understanding of thedynamics of global innovation networksseries of conferences aim to adopt precisely this type. This of approach based on an analytical grid that establishes atypology of R&D centers abroad. Inparticular, this typology should make it possible to analyze the specific factors related to R&D in the emerging countries.Some key issues are intellectual property, training and infrastructure. One of the aims is to discuss or possibly complete the analytical grid in order to get a clearer picture of the efficiency of R&D worldwide and in particular the benefits of locating R&D facilities in emerging countries.

Global innovation networks in major sectors

The series of conferenceswill begin with a presentation that takes stock of R&D internationalization based on various recent surveys and corporate case studies.

A conference will then be devoted to each of the four sectors, which have been chosen because of their key economic role but also to underscore the diversity of innovation across sectors.R&D expenditure is highly concentrated, with three large sectors spending most on research: automobiles, 1 pharmaceuticals/biotechnology and IT equipment . Two of these major industrial sectors have been singled out: pharmaceuticals and automobiles.The software sector has also been covered. The last sector, still subject to confirmation, would be telecommunications, from the dual standpoint of equipment and services.

Each conference will include an introductory presentation of the innovation process in the sector and its organizational structure, followed by insight provided by several companies.This will help participants understand the scope, means and benefits of internationalizing the innovation chain in each sector. Moreover, this analysis will provide insight into the determinants for locating corporate R&D activities. Particularattention will be paid to the attractiveness of the emerging countries, but the lectures will provide an overall understanding of the advantages that the major regions have in seeking world talents.

The final conference will present findings and comparisons between sectors, serving as a basis for the publication.This conference will further develop the different factors of development or on the contrary barriers to the establishment of world innovation networks. In particular, it will tackle intellectual property protection, stressing sector differences.It will also provide an opportunity to expand on the factors of attractiveness and the ranking of the different regions. Finally, it will enable participants to ponder institutional and regulatory developments as well as fiscal and financial incentives that could enhance the role of France and Europe in world R&D.

CatherineRaffour Survey Officer, ANRT FutuRIS Tél : [phone]  (directline 26 61) [e-mail]

With the support of

Frédérique Sachwald Economic Survey Office IFR Tél : [phone] [e-mail]

1 In some countries, other sectors have the larger R&D budgets, especially in Germany (chemicals) and France (aeronautics).