Livi, Christian

2015, Livi, Christian, Jeannerat, Hugues

Territorial innovation models and policy practices traditionally tend to associate the emergence, resurgence and growth of start-ups with the development of local industries, either as industrial pioneers or as innovative spinoffs embedded in a regional production system. This approach is in line with a “life cycle” pattern of innovation and of industrialization marked by sequential waves of growth and decline, by technological renewal and by sectorial transitions. In a knowledge and financial economy characterized by combinatorial knowledge dynamics, by even shorter project-based innovations and by global financial and production networks, this approach is called into question. Through the case of Swiss medical technologies (Medtech), this paper highlights how local medtech start-ups' evolution is shaped, from its early phase on, by the corporate venture strategies of multinational companies. While the economic potential of start-ups was traditionally perceived in a longer run, they seem to be more often “born to be sold” today. New research avenues and policy issues are finally derived from this particular case to address territorial innovation and competitiveness in the future.

2014, Livi, Christian, Jeannerat, Hugues

Territorial innovation models and policy practices traditionally tend to associate the emergence, resurgence and growth of start-ups with the development of local industries, either as industrial pioneers or as innovative spinoffs embedded in a regional production system. This approach is in line with a “life cycle” pattern of innovation and of industrialization marked by sequential waves of growth and decline, by technological renewal and by sectorial transitions. In a knowledge and financial economy characterized by combinatorial knowledge dynamics, by even shorter project-based innovations and by global financial and production networks, this approach is called into question. Through the case of Swiss medical technologies (Medtech), this paper highlights how local medtech start-ups' evolution is shaped, from its early phase on, by the corporate venture strategies of multinational companies. While the economic potential of start-ups was traditionally perceived in a longer run, they seem to be more often “born to be sold” today. New research avenues and policy issues are finally derived from this particular case to address territorial innovation and competitiveness in the future.

2013, Livi, Christian, Jeannerat, Hugues, Crevoisier, Olivier

Various territorial innovation models have been developed since the 1980s, offering a new perspective on how certain regional production systems have grown out of the innovation and training processes specific to certain local milieus. These models reflect a process of economic globalisation characterised by the increased mobility of goods and services but limited by those production factors which underpin innovation such as knowledge and innovation capital. This article reconsiders this approach, taking into account the new equally increased mobility of those cognitive and financial resources. It also seeks to understand how innovation embeds in a broader valuation system. Taking as its case study western Switzerland’s photovoltaic industry, the concept of the ‘innovative milieu’ is re-examined in the context of ever-increasing economic, political and social interest in sustainable development. Finally, in this revisited approach to territorial innovations, the use of the term ‘multi-local valuation milieu’ is proposed.

2015-1, Livi, Christian, Jeannerat, Hugues, Crevoisier, Olivier

2014, Livi, Christian, Jeannerat, Hugues

Territorial innovation models and policy practices traditionally tend to associate the emergence, resurgence and growth of start-ups with the development of local industries, either as industrial pioneers or innovative spin offs embedded in a regional production system. This approach is in line with a ‘lifecycle’ pattern of innovation and of industrialization marked by sequential waves of growth and decline, by technological renewal and by sectorial transitions. In a knowledge and financial economy characterized by combinatorial knowledge dynamics, by even shorter project-based innovations and by global financial and production networks, this approach is called into question. Through the case of Swiss medical technologies (Medtech), this paper highlights how start-ups’ evolution is shaped, from its early phase on, by the corporate venture strategies of multinational companies. While the economic potential of start-ups was traditionally perceived in a longer run, they are more often ‘born to be sold’ today. New research avenues and policy issues are finally derived from this particular case to address territorial innovation and competitiveness in the future.

2014, Livi, Christian, Jeannerat, Hugues, Crevoisier, Olivier

2013, Livi, Christian, Jeannerat, Hugues, Crevoisier, Olivier

Développée à partir des années 1980, différents modèles territoriaux d’innovation ont mis en perspective comment certains systèmes de production régionaux se développent à partir de dynamiques d’innovation et d’apprentissage propres à certains milieu locaux. Ces modèles reflètent une globalisation économique caractérisée par une mobilité accrue des biens et services mais limitée des facteurs de production à la base de l’innovation telle que la connaissance et le capital de développement. Cet article reconsidère cette approche pour tenir compte d’une mobilité également plus grande de ces ressources cognitives et financières aujourd’hui. Il cherche également à comprendre comment l’innovation est constitutive d’un système de valorisation socio-économique plus large. À travers le cas de l’industrie photovoltaïque en Suisse occidentale, le concept de « milieu innovateur » est requestionné dans le contexte d’un intérêt économique, politique et social toujours plus grand pour le développement durable. Le terme de « milieu valorisateur multi-local » est finalement proposé pour aborder les innovations territoriales de manière renouvelée.