Globalization of innovation and dynamics of a regional innovation network: The case of the Canadian Fuel Cell Cluster

Abstract

The Canadian Fuel Cell Cluster began its integration in the eighties in response to military intelligence policy recommendations, but its particular configuration and dynamics have been changing over time. This paper presents a longitudinal analysis of its development. Fieldwork was done through interviews conducted in 2005 and 2007-8. Results show some ways in which the role of the main actors, linkages and processes responsible for the cluster formation and evolution change over time. We provide a brief history of the fuel cell cluster and a description of its current characteristics and dynamics. We make particular reference to factors that they respond to, such as policies, market expectations, industry structure, and government economic support, for example, in order to explain the current cluster configuration as an open international innovation network, rather than as a local or regional one, a fact that challenges previous knowledge in this field.

The emergence of new technology-based industries: the case of fuel cells and its technological relatedness to regional knowledge bases

“…For the specific case of fuel cell patenting, the PCT data set is preferable for two reasons. First, as in other fields, patenting is a widely used strategy for firms to protect their knowledge assets in the fuel cell field (Avadikyan et al, 2003;Arechavala-Vargas et al, 2009). Because of the technology area's immaturity and the immense uncertainty regarding its future prospects, firms that have invested heavily in this new technology are extremely concerned with protecting their knowledge.…”

“…Secondly, as firms within the fuel cell industry regard themselves as global players, 2 it is appropriate to assume that they use the PCT system when applying for patents, as this provides them with the opportunity to simultaneously seek patent protection for an invention in each of a large number of countries (Arechavala-Vargas et al, 2009).…”

“…The author's own interviews with fuel cell stack and system developers and fromArechavala-Vargas et al (2009). 3 The OECD REGPAT database covers 42 countries, 30 of which are OECD members.…”

Building Human Infrastructure for the Digital Economy: Ryerson’s Digital Media Zone

“…Previous research [3], [19] [31], [67] has also explored social networks that constitute innovation ecosystems and the geographical clustering of technology company entrepreneurs in innovation hubs. Universities often play a critical role in these ecosystems and university-based technology transfer centres and incubators have been successful in effectively mobilizing research knowledge [52].…”

Technological Public–Private Innovation Networks: A Conceptual Framework Describing Their Structure and Mechanism of Interaction

“…The dynamic of a network should match between two network specificities: i) the enormous complexity of the interaction patterns and ii) the different incentives and information that determine the behaviour and preferences of network actors (Schweitzer et al, 2009) In technological public-private innovation networks, the innovation process not only depends on the characteristics of the network members, but also on the interactions between them. Meanwhile, the interaction processes between network actors are dynamic (evolutionary processes) (Arechavala-Vargas et al, 2009) and are associated with ties decoupling and fragmentation processes (i.e., the entry of new actors and the exit of others) . In this view, it is important to describe or explain innovation in technological public-private innovation networks in the spirit of evolutionary theory (Nelson & Winter, 1973), and path dependence theories (David, 1985), which describe the networks' dynamic processes.…”