Vernetzung und einzelwirtschaftliche Effekte von Unternehmen der Kunststoff- und Biotechnologiebranche in Mitteldeutschland - eine Analyse am Beispiel der Clusterinitiativen „Chemie/Kunststoffe“ und „Biotechnologie/Life Sciences“
Walter Komar
IWH-Sonderhefte,
No. 2,
2006
Abstract
According to theoretical implications the success of enterprises benefits from co-operation in clusters and networks. Studies of cluster and network processes show this for the industries chemistry/plastics and biotechnology/Life Sciences in Central Ger-many. Therefore enterprises which are organized in networks have better economic characteristics. Estimations of the productivity of firms using co-operation-based and non-co-operation-based factors as independent variables reveal a significantly positive influence of the propensity to co-operate as well as networking. In this regard scientific institutions and universities located in the region of firms play an important role. From this analysis it can be generalized and concluded, also concerning other industries, that networks emerge automatically under certain conditions. Nevertheless their creation and development should be encouraged, e.g. by efficiency strengthening of public research and university education as well as the intensification of co-operation and networking between the scientific and the corporate sector. This can promote the technology and human capital transfer.
Read article
Regional Differences in Entrepreneurship Education - Perceptions of University Target Groups
Kerstin Wagner, Frank Bau, Jürgen Schmude, Michael Dowling
External Publications,
2006
Abstract
In this paper, we contribute to the literature by empirically investigating certain important issues related to the activities and perception of entrepreneurship education. The paper focuses on the question whether the intentions and the perceptions in regard to being an entrepreneur differ between regions, or even between faculties. We also analyse if regional differences in education structures affect different needs and preferences concerning content and which target groups perceive which activities as most important.
Read article
Conditions of knowledge transfer of new staff members in companies – a game theoretical analysis -
Sidonia vonLedebur
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
2006
Abstract
The availability of knowledge is an essential factor for an economy in global competition. New knowledge is often produced at a different place from its implementation. Thus knowledge transfer is necessary. One possible transfer channel is the employment of people with distinct knowledge not yet available in a company. This study analyses the conditions of efficient transfer of new employees in companies with a game-theoretic model.
It is shown that a high additional reward in relation to the additional effort necessary for knowledge transfer enhances the transfer. But other incentives play a significant role as well, e.g. an adequate team size and a good working atmosphere.
Read article
Universities and Innovation in Space
Michael Fritsch, Viktor Slavtchev
Freiberg Working Papers, Nr. 15-2006,
No. 15,
2006
Abstract
We investigate the role of universities as a knowledge source for regional innovation processes. The contribution of universities is tested on the level of German NUTS-3 regions (Kreise) by using a variety of indicators. We find that the intensity and quality of the research conducted by the universities have a significant effect on regional innovative output while pure size is unimportant. Therefore, a policy that wants to promote regional innovation processes by building up universities should place substantial emphasis on the intensity and quality of the research conducted there.
Read article
Students' Preferences for Entrepreneurship Education. An Application of Conjoint Analysis
Kerstin Wagner, W. Steiner, Bernhard Baumgartner, Frank Bau
External Publications,
No. 401,
2005
Abstract
Read article
Kooperation, Vernetzung und Erfolg von Unternehmen - die Biotechnologiebranche
Walter Komar
List Forum für Wirtschafts- und Finanzpolitik,
No. 2,
2005
Abstract
According to theoretical implications the succes of enterprises benefits from co-operation and integration into networks. Enterprises of the biotechnology sector in particular have a high propensity to build up co-operations. Estimations of the growth of firms using co-operation-based and non-co-operation-based factors as independent variables reveal a significantly positive influence of the propensity of co-operation as well as networking. In this regard scientific institutions and universities located in geographical proximity of firms play an important role. From this analysis it can be generalized and concluded, concerning other industries too, that networks emerge automatically under certain conditions. Nevertheless their creation and development should be encouraged, e.g. by efficiency incentives for public research and education of universities as well as an intensification of co-operation and networking between the scientific and the corporate sector. This can promote the technology and human capital transfer.
Read article
Innovationskooperationen deutscher Unternehmen im europäischen und innerdeutschen Vergleich
Jutta Günther
Der Mittelstand an der Schwelle zur Informationsgesellschaft,
2005
Abstract
The study deals with innovation cooperation as a means to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. The empirical study compares the cooperation behaviour of innovative enterprises in Germany to other West European countries as well as between East and West Germany. The database used is the second Community Innovation Survey (CIS-2) of the EU. While German firms exhibit a cooperation frequency slightly below the average of the European Economic Area (EEA), enterprises in North European countries are by far most active with respect to cooperation frequency. The most important cooperation partner for firms in the EEA are other firms within the enterprise group, followed by suppliers and customers while German firms cooperate most frequently with universities. The comparative investigation of innovation cooperation in East and West Germany shows that East German firms cooperate more often than West German firms. However, a productivity advantage of cooperating firms against non-cooperating firms is only observable in West Germany. In East Germany, cooperating firms even exhibit a lower sales productivity than non-cooperating firms, which is explainable most probably through the fact that cooperation activities translate into productivity advantages only in the long run.
Read article
Was bringt die Wissenschaft für die Wirtschaft in einer Region? Regionale Innovations-, Wachstums- und Einkommenseffekte von öffentlichen Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen am Beispiel der Region Halle
Peter Franz, Diana Roth, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Schriften des IWH,
No. 18,
2004
Abstract
In neueren regionalökonomischen Theorien wird davon ausgegangen, dass die räumliche Nähe sowie Netzwerkbeziehungen zwischen den Unternehmen und anderen Akteu-ren in einer Region eine erhebliche Rolle für regionale Innovations- und Wachstumsprozesse spielen. Als „andere Akteure“ werden nicht zuletzt die öffentlichen Wissen-schaftseinrichtungen (Hochschulen und außeruniversitäre Forschungseinrichtungen) angeführt. Wissenschaftseinrichtungen sind vor allem deshalb für regionale Entwicklungsprozesse von Bedeutung, weil sie zwei Faktoren relativ unmittelbar beeinflussen können, denen heute ein entscheidender Einfluss auf die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung beigemessen wird. Diese Faktoren sind das Humankapital (in der Gestalt von Absolventen der Hochschulen sowie der an den Wissenschaftseinrichtungen tätigen Wissenschaftler) und das von den Wissenschaftseinrichtungen produzierte Wissen, insbesondere das nicht-kodifizierte Wissen („tacit knowledge“), das an die Person eines Forschers und damit an seinen Standort gebunden ist.
Read article
(No) Way out of unemployment? Evaluation of further education programs for various target groups
Eva Reinowski, Birgit Schultz, Jürgen Wiemers
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 14,
2004
Abstract
Die Förderung der beruflichen Weiterbildung ist eines der wichtigsten Instrumente der Arbeitsmarktpolitik in den neuen Bundesländern. Ob damit tatsächlich die Integration in den ersten Arbeitsmarkt beschleunigt wird, ist Gegenstand der aktuellen Diskussion. Welche Personengruppen ihre Beschäftigungschancen durch Weiterbildung besonders verbessern können, wurde bisher allerdings nur selten untersucht. In diesem Beitrag wird eine differenzierte Analyse des Maßnahmeeffekts auf die Arbeitslosigkeitsdauer sächsischer Weiterbildungsteilnehmer vorgestellt, bei der insbesondere auch die Zielgruppen der aktiven Arbeitsmarktpolitik untersucht werden. Damit soll eine Antwort auf die Frage, welche persönlichen, ökonomischen und institutionellen Faktoren den Beschäftigungserfolg der geförderten Maßnahmen beeinflussen, gefunden werden. Für die einzelnen Gruppen lassen sich graduell unterschiedliche Ergebnisse feststellen, was darauf hindeutet, dass die untersuchten Faktoren den Maßnahmeeffekt beeinflussen. Allerdings kann für keine der analysierten Gruppen ein positiver Beschäftigungseffekt beobachtet werden.
Read article
A Study of the Competitiveness of Regions based on a Cluster Analysis: The Example of East Germany
Franz Kronthaler
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 179,
2003
Abstract
This paper examines whether some East German regions have already achieved the same economic capability as the regions in West Germany, so that they are on a competitive basis with the West German regions and are able to reach the same economic level in the long run. If this is not the case, it is important to know more about the reasons for the economic weakness of the East German regions twelve years after unification.
The study is based on a cluster analysis. Criteria for the cluster formation are several economic indicators, which provide information about the economic capability of regions. The choice of the indicators is based on a review of results of the theoretical and empirical literature on the new growth theory and new economic geography.
The results show that most of the East German regions have not yet reached the economic capability and competitiveness of their West German counterparts so that they - from the viewpoint of the new growth theory and the new economic geography - are not in the position to reach the same economic level. According to these theories economic disadvantages are most notably the consequences of less technical progress, a lack of entrepreneurship and fewer business concentration. Under these points it is especially noteworthy that young well educated people leave these East German regions so that human capital might will turn into a bottle-neck in the near future. Only a few regions in East Germany - those with important agglomerations - are comparable to West German regions that are characterised by average capability and competitiveness, but not to those with above average economic capability and competitiveness. Even those more advanced East German regions still suffer from a slower technical progress.
There are important policy implications based on these results: regional policy in East Germany was not able to assist raising all regions to a sufficient level of competitiveness. It may be more effective to concentrate the regional policy efforts on a selection of important agglomerations. This has also strong implications for the EU regional policy assuming that the accession countries will have similar problems in catching up to the economic level of the EU as have the East German regions.
Read article