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Delve into the significance of regional collaborations in biomedicine using a case study of Western Sweden, focusing on collaborative patterns, motives, and partners in the industry.
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Do regional collaborations matter in biomedicine? The case of Western Sweden Jens Laage-HellmanIMIT and RIDE at Chalmers University of Technology Annika RickneIMIT, The Dahmén Institute and Lund University
Background • ”Interactive research” on a regional development project (”Biomedical Development in Western Sweden”) • Purpose: study the dynamic mechanisms involved in RIS development • Underlying theoretical approach: Innovation systems • Functional approach • Research activities: • Documentation of the early history • Survey to biomedical firms • Survey to biomedical researchers • Present paper: collaboration patterns in industry
Research puzzle • The interactive character of the innovation process • Acquisition and development of knowledge/resources • Learning • Customers/users, suppliers, universities… • Esp. In science-based and knowledge-intensive industries • The importance of regional collaboration/networking • Tacit nature of knowledge • Regions are the locus of innovation • Proximity matters! • Clustering of firms (e.g. in biotech) • Advantageous for individual firms to locate in strong clusters/RIS • The role of globalised collaboration/networking
Research questions • Main question: Do regional collaborations matter in biomedicine? • Specific issues: • How does the firms value different types of knowledge? • Through what types of channels is knowledge identified and acquired? • What is the relative importance of different types of partners? • What are the reasons for collaboration? • To what extent is the geographical dimension important?
Research design • Case: a) biomedicine, b) Western Sweden • Data collection: a) survey, b) complementing interviews
The collaborative patterns in biomedicine: Crucial types of knowledge & their sources
Discussion and conclusions • 1. Collaboration with business partners • a/ Customers • Important R&D partners • Usually located outside the region • - small region/country + niche products • - ”borne globals” - need for country-specific adaptations • Important for small/young firms to have pioneering customers nearby (e.g. Sahlgrenska University Hospital)
b/ Suppliers • Almost as important as customers (ESI) • Spurred by increasing ”outsourcing” (esp. medtech) • Advantageous to have local suppliers (esp. for SMEs) …..but often difficult to find • Lack of ”critical mass” in the industry: stimulate entry of supplier firms
b/ Suppliers • Almost as important as customers (ESI) • Spurred by increasing ”outsourcing” (esp. medtech) • Advantageous to have local suppliers (esp. for SMEs) …..but often difficult to find • Lack of ”critical mass” in the industry: stimulate entry of supplier firms • Some policy-implications (business partners) • HC organ. that is open to industry collaboration • Not enough to support collaboration within the region • Need to support internationalisation of SME • Support of local industry should include suppliers
2. Universities • Almost as important as the business partners, but in a different way • Science-based industry • Basic technology (inventions or knowledge) • Regional partners are important • Creation of new firms (USOs) • Cooperation opportunities for established firms • Tacit knowledge need for proximity • Natural for USOs, but important to broaden the interface • The Oulo case: tight U-I networking strong cluster
3. Other biomedical firms Relatively little collaboration between biomedical firms in the region Specialisation in different technology/product areas One exception: biomaterials and cell therapy cluster
Concluding remark Yes, regional collaborations matter in biomedicine – to some extent The role of regional universities Esp. for SMEs Business partners: regional collaboration is less important
Biomedical industry • Broad definition • Firms involved in development, manufacturing and/or marketing of: • Pharmaceuticals • Medical devices (incl. aids for disabled) • ”Biotech supply” products • Clinical/contract research services
Biomedical industry in Western Sweden More than 200 biomedical firms Six large firms: one pharma five medtech Three sub-sectors: Pharma: one giant; few others Medtech: many companies (large – small) fragmented cluster in biomaterials (+ cell therapy) ”Biotech supply”: no large companies some small companies
R&D and innovation activities R&D expenditures: Spend more than 10% on R&D: 60% of the firms Spend more than 20% on R&D: 38% of the firms (75% spend less than 10 man-years) Mainly product development 95% of the firms Scientific work: 60% of the firms Radical innovations: 80% Incremental innovations: 80% 75% run 1-3 projects