Globalization pushed regions on the market of global competition. Each of them tries to fulfill the needs of companies, tries to surround all actors with a reliable innovation system, tailored to the needs of their economy. The federal state of Baden-Württemberg (BW) in Germany is one of them. BW has been in the focus for its outstanding performance in the sectors of mature industries in the past. Nowadays the former successful region has to adapt to the sectors of high-technologies. Several concepts, such as RIS, lock-in, pathdependency, variety and specialization, are applied to the region to see how it has changed. It is questioned if BW was able to avoid stagnation and lock-in in the past and if it transformed its regional innovation system to a higher level. Surprisingly, the results show that BW was indeed able to fulfill the needs of high-tech sectors to a certain degree by further engaging R&D, and transforming the educational base.
Key Words: Regional Innovation Systems, Baden-Württemberg, mature industries, hightechnology
sectors
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE
1.2. RESEARCH SCOPE AND RESEARCH QUESTION
1.3. METHODOLOGY
1.4. STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS
2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. INTRODUCTION
2.2. REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS (RIS) IN THE LITERATURE
2.2.1. Introduction
2.2.2. Regional Innovation Systems
2.3. THE CONCEPTS OF LOCK-IN AND PATH-DEPENDENCY
2.3.1. Introduction
2.3.2. Lock-in and Path-Dependency at a Glance
2.4. THE CONCEPTS OF VARIETY AND SPECIALIZATION
2.4.1. Introduction
2.4.2. Variety vs. Specialization
3. CASE STUDY AND ANALYSIS
3.1. INTRODUCTION
3.2. THE REGION OF BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG, GERMANY
3.2.1. BW at a Glance
3.2.2. BW’s “traditional” economy
3.2.3. BW’s Regional Innovation System
3.2.4. Changing Regions - What happened to BW?
4. CONCLUSION
4.1. FINDINGS
4.2. LIMITATIONS
4.3. FURTHER RESEARCH
Research Objectives and Themes
The thesis examines how the region of Baden-Württemberg, traditionally dominated by mature industrial sectors, has transformed its regional innovation system to adapt to global competition and integrate high-technology services.
- Analysis of Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) theory.
- Examination of lock-in effects and path-dependency in industrial regions.
- Evaluation of variety versus specialization for economic growth.
- Empirical assessment of Baden-Württemberg’s economic structure and R&D performance.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.3. BW’s Regional Innovation System
Referring to Cooke et al (2007) BW can be seen as an interactive and networked type of RIS. Interactive meaning that the RIS is not particularly dominated by large or small firms but by a balance in between them. “The mix of public and private research institutes and laboratories, in the interactive RIS, is balanced, reflecting the presence of larger firms with regional headquarters and a regional government keen to promote the innovation base of the economy.” A networked RIS is more likely to occur “when the institutional support encompasses local, regional, federal and supranational levels, funding is often guided by agreements among banks, government agencies and firms. The research competence is likely to be mix, with both pure and applied, blue-skies and near-market activities geared to the needs of large and small firms” (120). This interactive RIS has several components that were mentioned in section 2.2. The following figure illustrates them and shows the connections between BW’s actors. It also gives a foresight on particular strengths of the region that will be dealt with in the section to follow.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter defines the research scope and explains the methodology, focusing on the question of how Baden-Württemberg changed its innovation system towards high-tech services.
2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter introduces key theoretical concepts, including Regional Innovation Systems (RIS), lock-in and path-dependency, as well as the debate between variety and specialization.
3. CASE STUDY AND ANALYSIS: This chapter applies the theoretical framework to the specific case of Baden-Württemberg, examining its economic history, innovation indicators, and transformation efforts.
4. CONCLUSION: This chapter summarizes the research findings, highlighting that the region successfully balanced its traditional economic base with new investments in high-tech sectors.
Keywords
Regional Innovation Systems, Baden-Württemberg, mature industries, high-technology sectors, lock-in, path-dependency, regional development, specialization, variety, innovation policy, R&D expenditure, technology transfer, knowledge spillover, Mittelstand, economic growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis examines the regional innovation system of Baden-Württemberg and how it transitioned from a strong focus on mature industries like automotive and engineering toward high-technology sectors.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The core themes include Regional Innovation Systems (RIS), path-dependency, lock-in effects, and the interplay between industrial specialization and economic diversity.
What is the central research question?
The work seeks to answer: "How did Baden-Württemberg change its innovation system towards high-tech services?"
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a case study method, primarily relying on desk research using statistical databases from regional, national, and international institutions.
What does the main part of the work address?
The main part analyzes Baden-Württemberg’s economic structure, R&D metrics, patent activity, and the role of institutional support in facilitating technological transition.
How would you describe the main keywords?
The work is characterized by terms such as Regional Innovation Systems, path-dependency, mature industries, and regional transformation.
Did Baden-Württemberg experience a lock-in effect?
The author argues that while the region was heavily focused on traditional sectors and critics pointed to potential lock-in risks, the region successfully leveraged its innovation system to diversify into high-tech fields.
What is the significance of the "Mittelstand" in the context of this study?
The study highlights that the German Mittelstand (small and medium-sized enterprises) is a vital component of the innovation network, facilitating knowledge transfer alongside larger companies.
- Quote paper
- Pascal Rossol (Author), 2008, Innovation and Change in Baden-Württemberg’s Regional Innovation System, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/149842
