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Clusters usually assume a dynamic of innovation at the cross-road between prox-imity and distance. On the one hand, proximity triggers trust and a sense of com-mon understanding between members that allow for the transfer of knowledge, especially its tacit components. But, at the same time, the innovativeness of the cluster also depends on distance: participants from different organizations with different skills, objectives and interests interact in a joint network. It creates a complex context for knowledge sharing, full of creative tensions and power issues. While insights from economic clusters (Porter 1998) or National (Lundvall 1992; Nelson 1993) and Regional Innovation Systems (Cooke et al. 1998; Asheim 2003) allow grasping the rationale behind the promotion of the innovation clus-ters, an important gap subsists in the understanding of the learning processes that are triggered, especially their political dimension. To make sure that such relation-ships keep their promises, it is important to understand what kinds of learning mechanisms are at stake and how partners ensure that the newly created knowledge is of interest for their parent organizations or themselves. Nevertheless, power issues and their impact on knowledge transfers have not been studied yet in the context of innovation clusters. One potential reason is the scarce use of frameworks that adequately manipulate such research objects. The goal of this chapter is therefore to outline a research approach for studying inter-organizational knowledge transfers in clusters as a situated, political process.

Clusters usually assume a dynamic of innovation at the cross-road between prox-imity and distance. On the one hand, proximity triggers trust and a sense of com-mon understanding between members that allow for the transfer of knowledge, especially its tacit components. But, at the same time, the innovativeness of the cluster also depends on distance: participants from different organizations with different skills, objectives and interests interact in a joint network. It creates a complex context for knowledge sharing, full of creative tensions and power issues. While insights from economic clusters (Porter 1998) or National (Lundvall 1992; Nelson 1993) and Regional Innovation Systems (Cooke et al. 1998; Asheim 2003) allow grasping the rationale behind the promotion of the innovation clus-ters, an important gap subsists in the understanding of the learning processes that are triggered, especially their political dimension. To make sure that such relation-ships keep their promises, it is important to understand what kinds of learning mechanisms are at stake and how partners ensure that the newly created knowledge is of interest for their parent organizations or themselves. Nevertheless, power issues and their impact on knowledge transfers have not been studied yet in the context of innovation clusters. One potential reason is the scarce use of frameworks that adequately manipulate such research objects. The goal of this chapter is therefore to outline a research approach for studying inter-organizational knowledge transfers in clusters as a situated, political process.

In today's economy, universities are seen as a central source of knowledge for the firms. Innovation policies therefore encourage University-Industry collaborations in the hope that it will lay out the overall framework for an efficient transfer between partners. In this work, I recognize the central role of universities in the innovation process but I question the belief that knowledge is per se flowing between private and academic partners in such collaborations. Focusing on the joint R&D projects financed by the Competitiveness Clusters of Wallonia, the thesis explores knowledge exchanges as they happen, influenced by their material and social circumstances, through a situated approach. In particular, I propose to explore the impact of power exercises between partners on what is learnt, how, and by whom. ; Aujourd'hui, l'université est vue comme une source central de connaissances pour les firmes. Des politiques d'innovation encouragent les collaborations entre universités et entreprises afin de favoriser un transfert de connaissances efficace entre ces partenaires. Dans ce travail, je reconnais le rôle central des universités dans le processus d'innovation mais je questionne la croyance selon laquelle les connaissances se diffuseraient naturellement de l'université vers la firme au sein de telles collaborations. En s'intéressant au cas des projets de R&D financés par les pôles de compétitivité wallons, cette thèse étudie les échanges de connaissances sur le vif, influencés par les circonstances matérielles et sociales qui les encadrent, au travers d'une approche située. En particulier, j'étudie l'impact de l'exercice du pouvoir entre partenaires sur ce qui sera appris, par qui et comment au sein de la collaboration. ; (DOCSESG00) -- FUNDP, 2011

In today's economy, universities are seen as a central source of knowledge for the firms. Innovation policies therefore encourage University-Industry collaborations in the hope that it will lay out the overall framework for an efficient transfer between partners. In this work, I recognize the central role of universities in the innovation process but I question the belief that knowledge is per se flowing between private and academic partners in such collaborations. Focusing on the joint R&D projects financed by the Competitiveness Clusters of Wallonia, the thesis explores knowledge exchanges as they happen, influenced by their material and social circumstances, through a situated approach. In particular, I propose to explore the impact of power exercises between partners on what is learnt, how, and by whom. ; Aujourd'hui, l'université est vue comme une source central de connaissances pour les firmes. Des politiques d'innovation encouragent les collaborations entre universités et entreprises afin de favoriser un transfert de connaissances efficace entre ces partenaires. Dans ce travail, je reconnais le rôle central des universités dans le processus d'innovation mais je questionne la croyance selon laquelle les connaissances se diffuseraient naturellement de l'université vers la firme au sein de telles collaborations. En s'intéressant au cas des projets de R&D financés par les pôles de compétitivité wallons, cette thèse étudie les échanges de connaissances sur le vif, influencés par les circonstances matérielles et sociales qui les encadrent, au travers d'une approche située. En particulier, j'étudie l'impact de l'exercice du pouvoir entre partenaires sur ce qui sera appris, par qui et comment au sein de la collaboration. ; (DOCSESG00) -- FUNDP, 2011

In today's economy, universities are seen as a central source of knowledge for the firms. Innovation policies therefore encourage University-Industry collaborations in the hope that it will lay out the overall framework for an efficient transfer between partners. In this work, I recognize the central role of universities in the innovation process but I question the belief that knowledge is per se flowing between private and academic partners in such collaborations. Focusing on the joint R&D projects financed by the Competitiveness Clusters of Wallonia, the thesis explores knowledge exchanges as they happen, influenced by their material and social circumstances, through a situated approach. In particular, I propose to explore the impact of power exercises between partners on what is learnt, how, and by whom. ; Aujourd'hui, l'université est vue comme une source central de connaissances pour les firmes. Des politiques d'innovation encouragent les collaborations entre universités et entreprises afin de favoriser un transfert de connaissances efficace entre ces partenaires. Dans ce travail, je reconnais le rôle central des universités dans le processus d'innovation mais je questionne la croyance selon laquelle les connaissances se diffuseraient naturellement de l'université vers la firme au sein de telles collaborations. En s'intéressant au cas des projets de R&D financés par les pôles de compétitivité wallons, cette thèse étudie les échanges de connaissances sur le vif, influencés par les circonstances matérielles et sociales qui les encadrent, au travers d'une approche située. En particulier, j'étudie l'impact de l'exercice du pouvoir entre partenaires sur ce qui sera appris, par qui et comment au sein de la collaboration. ; (DOCSESG00) -- FUNDP, 2011

It is obvious from the study of literature that university-industry (U-I) relationships and their subsequent knowledge transfers are topics of high political, economical, managerial and academic interest. Indeed, technological knowledge is seen as a major source of long-term economic growth and its transfer to the firm is critical since it acts as a significant innovation factor. In order to access this knowledge, a portfolio of sourcing strategies is available to the firm: knowledge creation through internal RandD departments, knowledge sharing with suppliers or market relationships, and also transfer from knowledge institutions such as public and private research centres. In this paper, we recognISe that University is a central source of knowledge but we question the general belief that knowledge is per se flowing between private and academic sphere through the conduct of University-Industry relationships. As a result, this paper presents our literature analysis concerning this research topic and explores one particular mean of inter-organisational knowledge transfer, namely the University-Industry collaborative research project. We present findings from an exploratory study, which aims at examining knowledge flows and collaborative behaviours at stake in such research projects. This interview survey has been realised with respondents actively involved in Belgian university-industry (U-I) interactions and provides qualitative data analysed through the theoretical framework of organisational knowledge creation developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi. We found evidence supporting the existence of a knowledge spiral as a dynamic for the whole projects and identified some knowledge-based limits to the reconciliation process between university's interests and company's needs.

It is obvious from the study of literature that university-industry (U-I) relationships and their subsequent knowledge transfers are topics of high political, economical, managerial and academic interest. Indeed, technological knowledge is seen as a major source of long-term economic growth and its transfer to the firm is critical since it acts as a significant innovation factor. In order to access this knowledge, a portfolio of sourcing strategies is available to the firm: knowledge creation through internal RandD departments, knowledge sharing with suppliers or market relationships, and also transfer from knowledge institutions such as public and private research centres. In this paper, we recognISe that University is a central source of knowledge but we question the general belief that knowledge is per se flowing between private and academic sphere through the conduct of University-Industry relationships. As a result, this paper presents our literature analysis concerning this research topic and explores one particular mean of inter-organisational knowledge transfer, namely the University-Industry collaborative research project. We present findings from an exploratory study, which aims at examining knowledge flows and collaborative behaviours at stake in such research projects. This interview survey has been realised with respondents actively involved in Belgian university-industry (U-I) interactions and provides qualitative data analysed through the theoretical framework of organisational knowledge creation developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi. We found evidence supporting the existence of a knowledge spiral as a dynamic for the whole projects and identified some knowledge-based limits to the reconciliation process between university's interests and company's needs.

We examine how the European Union (EU) standardization policy is perceived by firms by exploiting a survey dataset on firms' benefits. We explore whether perceived benefits are associated with firm size and firm capabilities. We find strong evidence that the perceived benefits of standardization is not equally distributed across firm size classes, industries and countries. Our study indicates that small ventures are less likely to perceive benefits from EU standardization than their larger counterparts, in particular in Eastern European and Mediterranean countries. Additionally, we find evidence that firms with the capabilities to be innovative, exporting and that employ foreign labor are more likely to perceive benefits from standardization than their non–innovative, non–exporting and non–foreign labour–employing counterparts. We suggest EU and EU Member States, in particular in Eastern and Mediterranean Europe, to focus on facilitating standardization compliance by enhancing the critical firm capabilities identified. Stimulation efforts could also be considered to address simultaneously supporting capabilities and standardization literacy.