Clusters and innovation from a Nordic perspectiveArne Isaksen

Cluster Development in Times of Change

5 September 2013

Clusters and innovation from a Nordic perspective

TCI Conference, Kolding, September 5, 2013

Professor Arne Isaksen, University of Agder

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Unemployment rate, Q2, 2013

NorwaySwedenFinlandDenmark Island

EU27

3.5 8.9 8.0 6.8 5.8

10,9

Source: Eurostat

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Global Competiteness Index

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Well-functioning Nordic economies

• Nordic economies perform well. Why so?• Macro factors, e.g. the Nordic model, often highlighted

• But micro foundation of innovation also important – and often not assessed

Learning organisations

• Relatively many learning organisations in the Nordic countries• Varied work tasks• Decentralisation of decision-making• Initiative ‘on the shop floor’ • Learning and improvements as part of the work

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Examples of broad participation• Producer of mining equipment, locally owned firm, 150 employees:

• ‘If a drawing includes errors, an engineer can be sure that within two minutes a worker will come and tell that this does not work’ (CEO)

• Aluminium smelter, part of a MNC, 300 employees:• ‘It is most fun when I am in other factories of the MNC. If you look at those named on patents from our factory you often find operators. Then they look at me.’ (Global project manager)

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High trust societies

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Characteristics of the Nordic innovation mode

• Broad participation and ‘cosy relations may stimulate:• More of the same – better and more efficient, rather than

• radical renewal and creation of entirely new industries

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Role of cluster projects

• Are clusters better suited to • improving firms’ productivity (and securing ‘more of the same’), rather than

• generating renewal and new path creation?• Need to supplement cluster thinking with e.g. the innovation system approach

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