Some previous innovation studies have recognized the existence of innovation paradoxes, meaning that some regions exhibit stronger (innovation prone) and some exhibit weaker (innovation averse) than expected economic growth relative to their R&D activity (Rodriguez-Pose 1999, Makkonen & Inkinen 2013).
In my PhD thesis, I have identified the under- and overachieving clusters in Helsinki Metropolitan Area in regard to the present state geography of human capital. This gives major advice to planning authorities of the region by highlighting the areas with the most potential for innovative growth. Method is multivariate spatial regression with GeoDa software. Analyzing the connection between zip code area's and its neighbors level of human capital and cluster's innovative output, we get the predictions of the estimated innovative output of the cluster and the residual values of each area, which show how much the area's development is lagged at the present. Results show that new clusters of knowledge intensive jobs and thus innovations could emerge into outskirts of inner city of Helsinki as well as some sub centers in Espoo and Vantaa. Areas rasterized with both styles represent innovation prone areas in regard to both, absolute and relative level of nearby human capital. These areas are southern and northern edge of the inner city in Helsinki as well as Kera, Mankkaa and Laajalahti in Espoo and Jokiniemi in Vantaa. Findings encourage to sufficient zoning of commercial space in ongoing planning of inner city extensions in Helsinki and planning of certain new or developing sub centers in Espoo and Vantaa.
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The role of innovations in local economic development dates back to the late 1800s, when Marshall introduced the concept of industrial district. However, not until hundred years later Marshall’s thoughts saw a revival and refined into concepts of learning regions, innovative milieux, the triple helix model, innovation clusters and regional innovation systems.
One of the key elements in Marshall’s industrial districts and late followers is the role of skilled labor in innovative growth. Few studies have recognized the importance of skilled workforce in regional innovation systems (e.g. Zucker et al., Henry & Pinch, Florida, Boschma et al, Lawton Smith, Makkonen & Inkinen). The concept of regional innovation system has some advantages as it recognizes the role of the active networks between different actors from regional to global level (Asheim). However, in comparison to innovation clusters (Porter), regional innovation systems are a-spatial in nature (Asheim). The role of skilled workforce in spatially more locally defined innovative growth, i.e. in innovation clusters, hasn’t been studied yet. The following statistics includes different indicators of human capital and creative class from the literature as well as some new introductions. Also the concept of examining both the relative and the absolute level of human capital is somewhat new to the subject. In addition, the effect of human capital in area's or region's innovativeness hasn't been studied before in regard to the neighbor areas as well. Significant human capital indicators predicting intra-metropolitan innovativeness are the following:
Findings are based on spatial regression models. I classified variables into absolute and relative sets and the result showed that absolute human capital indicators predict 83 % of the innovative output of the area as relative human capital indicators explain only 51 % of the innovativeness of the area. Examining absolute human capital indicators is something that can be implemented to the subject. Also new introduction, popularity of the immigration critical political parties, is something that can be used in other studies as a indicator of area's tolerance. Introducing the effect of not only the examined area itself but also the neighbor areas, i.e. spatial regression, didn't bring much to the subject.
Global Perspective
Finland has been ranked among one of the most innovative countries throughout the history of such rankings. In their latest Global Competitiveness Report, World Economic Forum assesses Finland as the leader of the world in its capacity to innovate. WEF has measured innovation through seven different indicators. Finland's strength lies especially in education and training system (1st), collaboration between universities and industry (1st) as well as in public and private R&D investments (3rd). National Perspective Helsinki is the capital of Finland and considered as the only metropolitan city region of the country. Helsinki Metropolitan Region is the most developed region in Finland and in terms of relative R&D spending and granted patents it ranks third most innovative region in Finland (Makkonen & Inkinen). In terms of absolute amount of R&D spending and granted patents Helsinki would surely be the most innovative region in Finland. Regional Perspective Considering Helsinki Metropolitan Region is the leading region of the most innovative country in the world, it would be greatly beneficial to study innovations within this city region. That is why I'm going to examine the subject in my PhD thesis from September 2015 on. The most obvious goal is 1) to find out where the clusters of innovation lie in Helsinki Metropolitan Region. The interest is not only to learn if the geography of innovation is multi nodal within city region, but also to investigate 2) if clusters of innovation boost economic development. Inspiration for these questions comes from findings of nationwide research by Makkonen & Inkinen. The latter part of the thesis discusses the platforms that generate innovation. Assumed sources for local innovation growth are 3) human capital (i.e. educated workforce), 4) regional prosperity (i.e. universities and other public institutions) as well as 5) infrastructure (i.e. accessibility, level of urbanization). The spatial clusters of each three seedbed will be examined by advanced quantitative methods as well as their correlation with the level of cluster's innovation. Methods and indicators that will be used are going to be the topics of my next blog posts. If the topic hooked You, You might want to go and visit my Facebook and Twitter accounts and click 'Like'. |
Photo by Rob Hurson
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July 2018
AuthorJuho Kiuru, geographer living in Helsinki, Finland. |