Abstract
Regional capabilities in economic renewal processes and the transition towards a bioeconomy have received growing interest from scientists and policymakers. Bioeconomy is predicted to be a significant new wave of economic growth and a driver of innovation. The transition from a fossil fuel economy towards a bioeconomy, utilization of renewable natural resources and sustainable production and consumption challenges regions to build their own success factors in the bioeconomy. Above all, the transition challenges companies and other economic actors to renew them- selves. Thus, there has been a need for more information on the capabilities of the actors that are essential to the transition towards a bioeconomy and regional eco- nomic renewal. Moreover, the regional context of these organizational capabilities is poorly understood.
Like dozens of other countries in Europe and across the world, Finland has drawn up a strategy to promote the bioeconomy. Great expectations have been placed on the opportunities around the bioeconomy in Finland. In addition, Finland has been internationally recognised for its innovation-driven growth and innovation policy. However, in the 2010s, Finland has lagged behind many reference countries in terms of economic development and research and development expenditure. Moreover, the development of the bioeconomy has not reached the ambitious economic growth targets envisioned in the 2014 bioeconomy strategy. The situation in Finland provided a very interesting context for this dissertation to examine the resources and capabilities required in the economic renewal process of regions towards a knowledge- and innovation-driven bioeconomy.
The most significant scientific contribution of this study compared to previous literature is the analytical framework for analysing the capabilities of innovation activities in different types of organizations in a regional context. The research increases the understanding of the importance and the role of these capabilities in the renewal of regions. Moreover, this research helps to understand the complex nature and challenges in the implementation of contemporary innovation policy. From a practical point of view, the analysis of capabilities helps the managers of different organizations to identify in which direction they possibly should develop their re- sources and capabilities in a significant transition such as the transition towards a bioeconomy.
The study emphasizes a comprehensive and complementary examination of capabilities in the renewal of regions, whereby the resource base of the region and the capabilities of organizations contributing to innovation activities and actor networks are examined together. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the relevance of innovation policy in directing the capabilities of economic actors.
The empirical analysis show that the capabilities related to innovation activities in companies, universities and public organizations share common features. The re- search indicate that dynamic abilities and network capabilities are essential in the renewal of organizations and at the same time in the transition of regions towards a knowledge- and innovation-driven bioeconomy. The capabilities of different organizations play a complementary role in the renewal of regions. The research show that innovation policy has not paid enough attention to the long-term development of these capabilities.
The results of the study confirm that Finnish innovation policy had drifted into a crisis during the 2010s with the search for a new direction lasting the entirety of the following decade. Moreover, the results suggest that a large-scale transition towards a knowledge- and innovation-driven bioeconomy has only just begun in Finland. The development of capabilities is a long-term task, which challenges the program- based cycle of the current short-term national innovation policy. The transition and the systemic innovation processes emphasize the need to mobilize a variety of actors and their capabilities. When implementing the regional innovation policy, it is important that the actors recognize the resources and capabilities of the region, and jointly identify different future opportunities for the bioeconomy. Moreover, it is important that regional actors initiate, maintain and coordinate processes that sup- port the development of the capabilities of companies and other organizations in the construction of the future bioeconomy.
Like dozens of other countries in Europe and across the world, Finland has drawn up a strategy to promote the bioeconomy. Great expectations have been placed on the opportunities around the bioeconomy in Finland. In addition, Finland has been internationally recognised for its innovation-driven growth and innovation policy. However, in the 2010s, Finland has lagged behind many reference countries in terms of economic development and research and development expenditure. Moreover, the development of the bioeconomy has not reached the ambitious economic growth targets envisioned in the 2014 bioeconomy strategy. The situation in Finland provided a very interesting context for this dissertation to examine the resources and capabilities required in the economic renewal process of regions towards a knowledge- and innovation-driven bioeconomy.
The most significant scientific contribution of this study compared to previous literature is the analytical framework for analysing the capabilities of innovation activities in different types of organizations in a regional context. The research increases the understanding of the importance and the role of these capabilities in the renewal of regions. Moreover, this research helps to understand the complex nature and challenges in the implementation of contemporary innovation policy. From a practical point of view, the analysis of capabilities helps the managers of different organizations to identify in which direction they possibly should develop their re- sources and capabilities in a significant transition such as the transition towards a bioeconomy.
The study emphasizes a comprehensive and complementary examination of capabilities in the renewal of regions, whereby the resource base of the region and the capabilities of organizations contributing to innovation activities and actor networks are examined together. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the relevance of innovation policy in directing the capabilities of economic actors.
The empirical analysis show that the capabilities related to innovation activities in companies, universities and public organizations share common features. The re- search indicate that dynamic abilities and network capabilities are essential in the renewal of organizations and at the same time in the transition of regions towards a knowledge- and innovation-driven bioeconomy. The capabilities of different organizations play a complementary role in the renewal of regions. The research show that innovation policy has not paid enough attention to the long-term development of these capabilities.
The results of the study confirm that Finnish innovation policy had drifted into a crisis during the 2010s with the search for a new direction lasting the entirety of the following decade. Moreover, the results suggest that a large-scale transition towards a knowledge- and innovation-driven bioeconomy has only just begun in Finland. The development of capabilities is a long-term task, which challenges the program- based cycle of the current short-term national innovation policy. The transition and the systemic innovation processes emphasize the need to mobilize a variety of actors and their capabilities. When implementing the regional innovation policy, it is important that the actors recognize the resources and capabilities of the region, and jointly identify different future opportunities for the bioeconomy. Moreover, it is important that regional actors initiate, maintain and coordinate processes that sup- port the development of the capabilities of companies and other organizations in the construction of the future bioeconomy.
Original language | Finnish |
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Place of Publication | Tampere |
Publisher | Tampere University |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-952-03-2888-7 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-952-03-2887-0 |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Publication type | G5 Doctoral dissertation (articles) |
Publication series
Name | Tampere University Dissertations - Tampereen yliopiston väitöskirjat |
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Volume | 797 |
ISSN (Print) | 2489-9860 |
ISSN (Electronic) | 2490-0028 |