THE GEOGRAPHY OF KNOWLEDGE CREATION

Transcription

1 THE GEOGRAPHY OF KNOWLEDGE CREATION Theoretical Explorations & Raising Questions Dr. Roel Rutten Tilburg University School of Social and Behavioural Sciences Regional Science Association Netherlands & Social Dynamics of Innovation Networks WORKSHOP 30 October 2015 Tilburg

2 Presentation Outline Knowledge Creation Conversations The Geography of Conversations Beyond Proximities: The Socio-Spatial Dynamics Of Knowledge Creation Anchoring Conversations Conversation Anchor Points within the City Theory Development

3 Knowledge creation Defining Knowledge Creation Lester & Piore (2004) Function: To solve problems Process: Social interaction between individuals How: Organized vs. bottom-up Analytical Phase Focused, organized, controlled access Connected to firm resources Interpretative Phase Addressing ambiguity on specific problems, questions, challenges Ambiguity as source of creativity Informal, bottom-up, open access, Community of Practice INNOVATION PROJECTS CONVERSATIONS

4 Conversations and Innovation Projects interpretative phase ambiguous analytical phase Focused conversations innovation projects accessible for community of practice controlled access

5 Examples of Conversations Hybrid Vehicle Conversation - Electric engineers, mechanic engineers, designers - Discuss endurance, safety, power, speed of recharging - Happens in research facilities of car manufacturers, universities Ebola Vaccine Conversation - Medical scientists, doctors - Discuss disease symptoms, treatment effects - Happens in field hospitals, research facilities Virtual Banking Conversation - Financial, IT-workers, graphical designers, retailers - Discuss services, interfaces, security of virtual banking - Happens in task forces, office meetings, coffee bars, pubs Phileas Bus

6 The Geography of Conversations (I) Conversations are: Effort to bridge distance Social spaces (communities of practice) Centred around a specific problem, challenge May, may not be a local problem May, may not depend on local (research) facilities Open, informal, across organizational boundaries Local, non-local virtual As input for innovation projects Geographical dynamics the interaction of social space and physical place Distance dynamics Likelihood of bridging distance for knowledge creation Being there Place dynamics Attractiveness of a place for knowledge creation Being where Preference for certain individuals Dependency on certain individuals Socio-cultural diversity: who s there, what s going on? Amenities: What is there?

7 The Geography of Conversations (II) Wide body jet conversation Strong Anchored Conversations Ebola vaccine conversation Place Dynamics (quality of place) Single Local Conversations Single Local Anchored Conversations Geographically Concentrated Conversations no generalizations on knowledge creation and space Multi Local Anchored Conversations Geographically Dispersed Conversations Multi Local Conversations Local mall conversation Weak Footloose Conversations Virtual banking conversation Weak Distance Dynamics (inclination to bridge distance) Strong

8 Where are Conversations Anchored? Where do social space and physical place meet? Research Centres Creative Hot Spots University Campuses Convention Centres Hotels, Bars, Restaurants Office Buildings

9 Conversation Anchor Points in Tilburg WE ARE HERE KEY Creative Industries Services Industries Public Administration University Higher Education Research and Development Hospitals Main Line Railway Station Secondary Railway Station Motorway Access SMALL SCALE ACCESSIBILITY

10 Where do Conversations Anchor? (I) Accessibility of the location Hubs of local and global knowledge Digital Connectivity Global Connectivity for temporary proximity Andrés Rodríguez-Pose Space as a field of opportunities Local Connectivity for resident knowledge workers Richard Shearmur

11 Where do Conversations Anchor? (II)?? Quality of the physical environment Jane Jacobs What matters is that old and new buildings meet, that people converge and that functions blur Did you say, Buzz Björn Asheim TIMs Ron Boschma proximities From the functional city To the buzzing city Michael Storper I said, the rise of the creative class changes work, leisure, community and everyday life Richard Florida

12 Where do Conversations Anchor? (III) The diversity of the location Who s there, What s going on? Places (the middle-ground), connect individuals (the underground) and organizations (the upperground) Anchoring conversations Scale of the location cognitive diversity communities of practice Since the 2000s, growth is in mid-size cities socio-cultural diversity generating new ideas Patrick Cohendet Philip McCann

13 Hackney Bayswater overseeable islands In a metropolitan area Bloomsbury scale through connectivity The City Canary Wharf diversity through connectivity the new Industrial District?

14 Anchor Points and the City Users: Knowledge workers IT support staff Office support staff Etc. Anchor Points Population Servicers: Cleaners Caterers Security staff Etc. Users and servicers meet, but do not interact Disconnect between knowledge economy and rest of the economy Anchor Points depend on city services Questions: How much disconnect is harmful? How specialized must the services be? Are there scale/ agglomeration advantages for services? Urban Connectivity How are Anchor Points used? As parks, public areas As centres of performing art and creativity As restaurants, bars As education/ training centres Etc. Some Anchor Points better suited for urban connectivity than others or are they? Questions: How much urban connectivity is necessary? How does urban connectivity affect buzz? How does urban connectivity affect the attractiveness of an Anchor Point?

15 Socio-Economic Divide = Geographical Divide The geography of knowledge creation The trickle down theory is a shambles has an ugly side But when and to what extent is that harmful for Conversation Anchor Points? Kevin Morgan

16 Theory Development Oliver Ibert A geography of knowledge must be: - A knowledge-based theory of spatial clustering - A spatial theory of knowledge formation Geographical typology of conversations Place Dynamics THE URBAN NETWORK Interconnected Anchor Points Whether a large metropolis London New York Or an agglomeration Randstad Holland Silicon Valley The key point is fragmentation The interaction between social space and physical place happens on a small scale in an urban network Look at the interaction between social space and physical place Me Physical connectivity - Local connectivity (local hub) - Global connectivity (global gateway) Digital connectivity connectivity Urban connectivity - Multi-use/ multi-purpose locations scale Scale - To ensure cognitive diversity (multiple CoPs, buzz) - To ensure complementary amenities (work, leisure) - Negative externalities (congestion, socio-economic deprivation)

17 Conversation Anchor Points Heat Map

18 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION VIELEN DANK FÜR IHRE AUFMERKSAMKEIT? TERIMA KASIH ATAS PERHATIAN ANDA HARTELIJK DANK VOOR UW AANDACHT