Regional innovation system: potential and performance of the region and general characteristics

اقتصاد و توسعه منطقه ای

Article 3, Volume 29, Issue 24, March 2023, Pages 55-88   

Document Type: Original Article

DOI: 10.22067/erd.2022.70058.1038

Authors

ali asghar sadabadi^{* 1}; zohreh rahimi rad²; kiarash fartash²; Fatemeh Jafarian³

¹Assistant Professor of Institute for Science and Technology Studies, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

²Ph.D. in Science and Technology Policy, Mazandaran University, Mazandaran, Iran

³Master of Intrapreneurshi, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

 
1- INTRODUCTION
      "Region" is a concept that plays an important role in the policy-making of the governments of the world. With the changes that have taken place and new technologies, a new type of region is needed today. Regions, as a combination of criteria and elements, can create and continuously improve knowledge enterprises by injecting new ideas, knowledge and organizational learning. Regions must incorporate the principles of knowledge creation and continuous learning to eventually become learning regions. According to the special characteristics of each region of Iran; Innovation has a different effect in each of these areas. To determine the extent of the impact of these systems, it is necessary to evaluate their performance. The authors of this study intend to provide a model for evaluation in accordance with the conditions of the regions in Iran. The proposed regional innovation system evaluation model consists of three levels, each of which evaluates regions from different perspectives. In such a way that the indicators presented in each level are complementary to other levels. In the first part of this research, the theoretical bases and researches conducted in this field are examined. In the following, by using the opinions of science and technology policy experts, the evaluation model and framework will be specified and the final model will be examined in Isfahan region.
 
2- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
"    Region" is one of the concepts that is the basic basis for economic policies in Europe as well as other parts of the world. Each region has its own set of main elements that the production system needs. Therefore, to achieve growth and development in the country, it is necessary to examine regional innovation systems.
It is noteworthy that regional innovation systems alone will not be able to compete in the global economy. Production systems play an important role at the regional level. Therefore, local enterprises should be connected to national and transnational innovation systems to the extent that regional innovation systems go beyond their borders during the process of economic integration and globalization.
The regional innovation system has been introduced in order to complete regional development theories and attitudes such as industrial poles, industrial clusters and industrial zones. All these theories and attitudes have been formed around one basic idea: the regional proximity and proximity of companies in a region ultimately leads to their growth and development.
There are different models and tools for evaluating and measuring regional innovation systems. The comparison of the models shows that most of them are used for their own conditions and cannot be applied in other countries of the world. Because they have not examined all the dimensions effective in regional innovation.
In the world, there is no uniform and specific method that can be used to analyze and evaluate the regional innovation system. Despite a significant amount of research on this topic; In the contemporary literature, there is no common understanding of the nature of the regional innovation system (RIS) as well as the performance evaluation system (Rodskaya and Rodionov, 2018).
Therefore, this research has tried to achieve its desired goals by examining the existing evaluation models and indicators to develop a new suitable framework for the conditions of Iran's regions. This research will present a conceptual model for evaluating the regional innovation system by examining the existing models, taking into account the conditions that originate from Iran's economic, political and social characteristics.
 
3- METHODOLOGY
       The current research seeks to answer the question that what dimensions, variables and indicators are included in the comprehensive evaluation model of the performance of regional innovation systems appropriate to Iran's context? Therefore, this research is exploratory-descriptive and practical in terms of its purpose, and its nature is quantitative-qualitative (mixed) and thematic analysis and fuzzy Delphi methods are used in it.
The current research is done in 2 stages:

Identifying the dimensions, components and evaluation indicators of the regional innovation system
Investigating the performance of the innovation system in Isfahan region.

 
4- RESULTS & DISCUSSION
      The extracted models from the literature were provided to experts through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to determine the order of placement of these indicators as well as the priority level of each of these sub-indices for a model suitable for Iran's regions.
After identifying the dimensions and initial determination of the model, the obtained model was evaluated by Delphi (4 steps).  
*Identified Common indicators include:
1- Infrastructures and fields of innovation
2- Labor market
3-Beliefs and Norms
4-Geographic location feature
5- Education
* Regional innovation potential was identified at 3 levels:
1-Technological potential
2- Personnel potential
3-Scientific potential
* Regional innovation performance was also investigated from two aspects:
1-Company performance
2-System performance
 
5- CONCLUSIONS & SUGGESTIONS
In recent years, the regional innovation system has become the main priority of policy makers around the world. In Iran, the goal of 1401 is to increase the economic growth by 8%, for this reason, the role of innovative regions is showing more than before. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the regional innovation in it, which provides the road map to achieve the goal of economic growth. For this reason, this research intended to present a model for evaluating this innovation system and examine it in one of Iran's regions. Therefore, with the aim of identifying the regional innovation system, using existing literature and experts' opinions; A model with three levels: general indicators, innovation potential and innovation performance was obtained.

Keywords

Regional Innovation System; Performance Evaluation Model; General Indicators; Regional Potential; Isfahan

References

References

Abedi Jafari, H.; Taslimi, M. S.; Faghihi, A., & Sheikhzadeh, M. (2010). Thematic analysis and thematic networks: a simple and efficient method for exploring patterns embedded in qualitative data municipalities. Strategic management thought (management thought), 23, 151-198. (in Persian)

Abdoli, A.; Mohammadi, J., & Ebrahimi, R. (2015). The Analysis of Felling Security Social in Urban Tourists (Case study: The Domestic Tourist of Esfahan City). Quarterly Journal of Geography and Planning. Winter 2013, No. 50. (in Persian)

Almeida, A.; Figueiredo, A., & Rui Silva, M.  (2011). From concept to policy: building regional innovation systems in follower regions. European Planning Studies, 19(7), 1331-1356.

Amiri, F.; Karam, Z., & Akbari, N. (2012). Improving the performance strategy of companies and economic institutions based on the balanced scorecard (BSC) using the dynamic system approach. the 10th International Strategic Management Conference, Tehran, https://civilica.com/doc/278969(in Persian)

An overview of the development indicators of Isfahan province. (2021). Vice President of Economic Affairs and Planning of the Ministry of Cooperation. Labor and Social Welfare. (in Persian)

Asheim, B. T.; Isaksen, A., & Trippl, M. (2020). The role of the regional innovation system approach in contemporary regional policy: Is it still relevant in a globalised world? In Regions and innovation policies in Europe. Edward Elgar Publishing.‏

Asheim, B.  T., & Coenen, L.  (2003). Knowledge Bases and Regional Innovation Systems: Comparing Nordic Clusters. Research Policy, 34(8), 1173-1190.

Asheim, B.  T., & Isaksen, A.  (2002). Regional Innovation Systems:  The Integration of Local “sticky” and Global “Ubiquitous” Knowledge. Journal of Technology Transfer, 27(1), 77-86.

Bajmócy, Z. (2013). Constructing a Local Innovation Index: Methodological Challenges Versus Statistical Data Availability. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, 6(1), 69-84.

Baltar. F., & Brunet. I. (2012). Social research 2.0: virtual snowball sampling method using Facebook. Internet Research. 22(1): 57 – 74.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77-101.

Buesa, M.; Heijs, J., & Baumert, T .(2010). The determinants of regional innovation in Europe: A combined factorial and regression knowledge production function approach. Research Policy, 39(6), 722-735

Chang, Y. H. (1998). Transportation plan appraisal and decision making-discussion and application of the fuzzy theory. Taipei: Hwatai.

Chen, K., & Guan, J. (2011). Mapping the functionality of China's regional innovation systems: A structural approach. China economic review, 22(1), 11-27.

Cooke, P. (2001).  Form Technopoles to Regional Innovation Systems:  The Evolution of Localized Technology Development Policy.  Canadian Journal of Regional Science, 24(1), 21-40.

Cooke, P. (2004). Evolution of Regional Innovation Systems – Emergence, Theory, Challenge for Action. Cooke P. (Ed.). Regional Innovation Systems, 2nd, 1-18 London, UK: Routledge.

Cooke, P.; Gomez Uranga, M., & Etxebarria, G. (1997). Regional innovation systems: Institutional and organisational dimensions. Research Policy. 26, 475-491

Cooke, P., & Leydesdorff, L. (2006). Regional development in the knowledge-based economy: The construction of advantage. The journal of technology Transfer, 31(1), 5-15.

Diez, M. A., & Esteban, M. S. (2000). The evaluation of regional innovation and cluster policies: looking for new approaches. 4. EES Konferansında Sunulan Tebliğ, 12-14.

Doloreux, D. (2004). Regional innovation systems in Canada: a comparative study. Regional studies, 38(5), 479-492.

Doloreux, D., & Parto S. (2005). Regional Innovation Systems: Current Discourse and Unresolved Issues. Technology in Society, 27(2), 133-153.

Elavarasan, R. M., & Pugazhendhi, R. (2020). Restructured society and environment: A review on potential technological strategies to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Science of The Total Environment, 725, 138858.‏

Eskanderzadeh Fard, T., &  Bohlooli, N. (2020). The Role of Leading Firms and Business Clusters in Regional Innovation. Journal of Innovation and Creativity in Humanities, 10(1), 161-188. (in Persian)

Evangelista, R.; Iammarino, S.; Mastrostefano, V., & Silvani, A. (2002). Looking for regional systems of innovation: evidence from the Italian innovation survey. Regional Studies, 36(2), 173-186.

Florida, R. (1995). Toward the learning region. Futures. 1995; 27(5):527–36.

Forsat Emroz News Agency. (2021). Economic ranking of provinces. (in Persian)

Fritsch, M., & Kauffeld-Monz, M. (2010). The impact of network structure on knowledge transfer: an application of social network analysis in the context of regional innovation networks. The Annals of Regional Science, 44(1), 21.

Fritsch, M., & Slavtchev, V. (2011). Determinants of the efficiency of regional innovation systems. Regional Studies, 45(7), 905-918.

Fu, W.; Diez, J. R., & Schiller, D. (2012). Regional innovation systems within a transitional context: Evolutionary comparison of the electronics industry in Shenzhen and Dongguan since the opening of China. Journal of Economic Surveys, 26(3), 534-550.

Glebova, I., & Kotenkova, S. (2014). Evaluation of Regional Innovation Potential in Russia. Procedia Economics and Finance, 14, 230-235.

Guba, E. L., & Lincoln, Y. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. Handbook of cualitative research. California: Sage, 105-117.

Hajek, P.; Henriques, R., & Hajkova, V. (2014). Visualising components of regional innovation systems using self-organizing maps—Evidence from European regions. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 84, 197-214.

Hájková, V., & Hájek, P. (2010). Analysis of regional innovation systems by neural networks and cluster analysis. Communication and Management in Technological Innovation and Academic Globalization, 46-51.

Iammarino, S., & Mc Cann, P. (2006). The Structure and Evolution of Industrial Clusters: Transactions, Technology and Knowledge Spillovers. Research Policy, 35(7), 1018-1036.

             Iranian Universities Reference. https://www.uniref.ir/(in Persian)

Ishikawa, A.; Amagasa, M.; Shiga, T.; Tomizawa, G.; Tatsuta, R., & Mieno, H. (1993). The max–min Delphi method and fuzzy Delphi method via fuzzy integration. Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 55, 241–53.

Kahn, K. B. (2018). Understanding innovation. Business Horizons, 61(3), 453-460.‏

Karimloo, R., & Zakary, A. (2021). Analysing the Interactions Between Key Stakeholders in a Regional Innovation System (Case Study: Rab-e- Rashidi Special Region of Science and Technology). Journal of Improvement Management, 14(4), 85-114. (in Persian)

Krätke, S. (2002). Network analysis of production clusters: the Potsdam/Babelsberg film industry as an example. European Planning Studies, 10(1), 27-54.

Kharazmi, O., & Nedaei, A. (2013). Analyze of innovation infrastructural in iran. Journal of Arid Regions Geographics Studies, 3(12), 103-127. (in Persian)

Liu, S. G., & Chen, C. (2003). Regional innovation system: Theoretical approach and empirical study of China. Chinese Geographical Science, 13(3), 193-198.

Liu, J.; Chen, R.; Wang, Z., & Zhang, H. (2011). Spherical cap harmonic model for mapping and predicting regional TEC. GPS solutions, 15(2), 109-119.

Maillat, D.  (1998).  From the Industrial District to the Innovative Milieu:  Contribution to an Analysis   Territorialized   Production   Organizations.   Discussion   Paper, Université   de Neutchatel.

Malmberg, A., & Maskell, P. (2002). The Elusive Concept of Localization Economies: Towards a Knowledge-Based Theory of Spatial Clustering. Environment and Planning, 34(3), 429-449.

Maskell, P. (2001). Towards a knowledge-based Theory of the Geographical Cluster. Industrial and Corporate Change, 10(4), 921-944

Mirzaei, H. A., & Rabbani, T. (2021). The Evaluation and Analysis of Regional Innovation Capacity in the Provinces of Iran. Iranian Journal of Economic Research, 26(87), 77-110. (in Persian)

Mohammadi, Y.; Moghbel, A., & Bagheri Moghadam, N. (2019). Functional Analysis Framework of Regional Innovation System in Developing Countries. Journal of Technology Development management (JTDM), 7(2), 43-78. (in Persian)

Morgan, K. (1997).  The learning region: institutions, innovation and regional renewal, Regional Studies, 31, 491–504.

Moulaert, F., & Sekia, F. (2003). Territorial innovation models: a critical survey. Regional studies, 37(3), 289-302.

Müller-Nordhorn, J.; Binting, S.; Roll, S., & Willich, S.N. (2008). An update on regional variation in cardiovascular mortality within Europe. European heart journal, 29(10), 1316-1326.

Pakzad, M.; Sadabadi, A.A.; Kazemi, M.; Azimi, A., & Hosseini, S. A. (2016). Regional innovation system: concepts and evaluation models. First Edition. Tehran: Scientific Policy Research Center of Iran. (in Persian)

Radio and Television News Agency. (2021). The latest state of information and communication technology development in the provinces. (in Persian)

Razavi, S. M., & Akbari, M. (2018). Innovation system. First Edition. Tehran: Tehran University Press. (in Persian)

Riahi, P., & Danaee Fard, H. (2019). Science, Technology and Innovation Policies to Strengthen Regional Innovation Systems. Journal Of Science and Technology Policy (JSTP). 11(2), 193-208. (in Persian)

Sadabadi, A. A. (2021). Explain the logical analysis of social innovation. Journal of Innovation and Creativity in Humanities. 11(1), 67-104. (in Persian)

Sadabadi, A. A.; Rad, Z. R., & Fartash, K. (2021). Comprehensive evaluation of Iranian regional innovation system (RIS) performance using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management.‏

Sadyrtdinov, R. R.; Korablev, M. M., & Vladimirova, S. A. (2015). Regional Innovation System Development: Comparative Analysis of the Republic of Tatarstan and Volga Federal District Regions. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1S3), 317.

Shirdel, Sh., & Fathi, Reza. (2021). Identifying the factors affecting the regional innovation system (with emphasis on Iran). Journal of Innovation Ecosystem, 1(1). (in Persian)

Su, Y.; Jiang, X., & Lin, Z. (2021). Simulation and relationship strength: characteristics of knowledge flows among subjects in a regional innovation system. Science, Technology and Society, 26(3), 459-481.‏

Tasnim News Agency. (2018). The unemployment situation from the point of view of economic indicators; What is the future of employment in Isfahan? (in Persian)

Rudskaya, i. A., & Rodionov, D. (2018). Comprehensive evaluation of Russian regional innovation system performance using a two-stage econometric model. Revista Espacios, 39(04).

Wang, Y.; Sutherland, D.; Ning, L., & Pan, X. (2015). The evolving nature of China's regional innovation systems: Insights from an exploration–exploitation approach. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 100, 140-152.

Will, K. (2020). Labor Market. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/labor-market.asp

Zamani, Z.; Mobini Dehkordi, M. & Barati, M. (2021). The effect of small and medium enterprises in Isfahan province on GDP. Report published by Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. (in Persian)

Zilang, H.; Yaming, Z., & Zhuo, L. (2012). The comparative study on bohai rim regional technology innovation ability. Physics Procedia, 33, 294-30.

Zolfagharzadeh, M. M.; Aslani, A.; Sadabadi, A. A.; Sanaei, M.; Toosi, F. L., & Hajari, M. (2017). Science and technology diplomacy: a framework at the national level. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 8(2), 98-128.