Scientists as Midwives to Cluster Emergence: An Institutional Work Framework

Abstract

Abstract:The question of how embedded actors can create institutions that support cluster emergence remains unsolved in the cluster and national innovation systems literature. The present paper extends the recent literature on institutional entrepreneurship and institutional work to solve this paradox of embedded agency in the context of science-based clusters. Building on a longitudinal single-case study of a functional foods cluster in Finland, we present an institutional work framework for cluster formation. We argue that, in addition to ideational, material and bridging work, authentic leadership work is critical for cluster emergence. The results of the study highlight the opportunities that scientists have to act as midwives to cluster formation, but they also show that well-functioning clusters need a broader support base.

Institutional Entrepreneurship, Power, and Knowledge in Innovation Systems: Institutionalization of Regenerative Medicine in Tampere, Finland

“…Conversely, it adds to the institutional entrepreneurship literature by exploring the important but understudied link between institutional entrepreneurship and innovation systems. We join earlier studies that call for a more nuanced understanding of how actors may change institutions in and for innovation systems (Hung and Whittington, 2011;Ritvala and Kleymann, 2012) by showing how different forms of knowledge and power evolve with a process while simultaneously guiding it. Most importantly, this study links purposive agency into the literature on innovation systems that has been criticized for seeing policy--makers and practitioners in a simplistic manner (Witt, 2003;Uyarra, 2010).…”

“…The few existing studies on institutional entrepreneurship in innovation systems convincingly challenge the rationalistic and heroism--inclined line of research by revealing the collective and processual nature of institutional entrepreneurship (Drori and Landau, 2011;Hung and Whittington, 2011;Ritvala and Kleymann, 2012;see also Forbes 2012). A study on functional foods shows that institutional entrepreneurship is often an unplanned, highly personal and intuitive form of agency (Ritvala and Kleymann, 2012) and, in his study on nanotechnology, Kulve (2010) reveals the patchwork nature of institutional change and the ways in which institutional entrepreneurs 'softly' frame the conditions for future development. Interestingly, he also points out the significance of timing by analysing the 'waiting games' needed to reduce the uncertainties around new technologies.…”

“…We aim to add to the few studies that have focused on institutional entrepreneurship in the context of innovation systems (e.g. Drori and Landay 2011;Hung and Whittington 2011;Ritvala and Kleymann 2012;Sotarauta and Pulkkinen 2011). We contribute to the institutional entrepreneurship literature by exploring the important but understudied link between institutional entrepreneurship and innovation systems, focusing specifically on institutional agency, power and knowledge.…”

Creative Forces for Entrepreneurship: The Role of Institutional Change Agents

“…Examples of individual actors include a wide range of entrepreneurs: the business families merging into institutions in Indonesia (Dieleman & Sachs, 2008); diaspora entrepreneurs who, inspired by the culture and society in their host country, transform institutional arrangements in their country of origin (Riddle & Brinkerhoff, 2011;Riddle, Hrivnak & Nielsen, 2010); a young Uzbek woman living in a rural community who was forced, due to family circumstances, to start a traditional craft enterprise at home, and who, over time, started breaking out of the norms of her traditional culture and offering further training possibilities for young girls . Moreover, research has identified museum directors (Bagdadli & Paolino, 2006) or gourmet chefs (Cousins, O'Gorman & Stierand, 2010;Ottenbacher & Harrington, 2009;Rao et al, 2005;Svejenova, Mazza & Planellas, 2007;Svejenova, Planellas & Vives, 2010); someone like Rachel Carson, the famous environmentalist (Kisfalvi & Maguire, 2011) or environmental mangers (Rothenberg, 2007); scientists who act as "midwives" to clusters (Ritvala & Kleymann, 2012) or to health initiatives (Ritvala & Granqvist, 2009); civil servants such as judges (Colomy & Kretzmann, 1995), nurses (Sundin & Tillmar, 2008), physicians (Wang, Clinch & Osland, 2011) and the local school administrator (Denton, 1987) as institutional change agents.…”

“…In relation to the Gulf countries, Kshetri and Ajami (2008) make a similar point by indicating that it is those leaders with an understanding of their own context, but who have been educated abroad (i.e., opened to modern ideas), that display the ability to act as change agents. Some research relates border crossing to professions, arguing that for example, for scientists to be able to act as change agents, they need to be able to "operate across spatial scales" and their own professional standards (Ritvala & Granqvist, 2009;Ritvala & Kleymann, 2012) or demonstrating that during the period from 1970 to 1997, when classical and nouvelle cuisines competed for the allegiance of chefs, French chefs redrew the boundaries of culinary categories (Rao et al, 2005). Other research shows that border crossing may depend on the age of a field: Especially where fields are mature, (Wright & Zammuto, in press), actors draw on their field positions and create opportunities for institutional entrepreneurship.…”