Liege2011 Maciej pietrzykowski

Barriers to cooperation in business networks

The case of the Wielkopolska Region

Maciej PIETRZYKOWSKIPoznan University of Economics

Al. Niepodległości 10, 60-967 Poznan, PolandPhone: ++ 48 61 854 33 12, Fax: ++48 61 854 39 87

[email protected],pl

Sustainable economics within the new culture of development, Liege 2011

mailto:[email protected],pl

• Research background

• Conceptualization of business networks

• Research methodology

• Results of the research

• Conclusions


Outline of the Presentation

Identification of main barriers to cooperation within regional business networks, especially business clusters in the

Wielkopolska region


Main purpose of the paper

• Strengthening Europe's knowledge base (also strengthening business-academia collaboration)

• Getting good ideas to the market• Maximizing regional and social benefits• Pooling efforts for breakthroughs• Collaborating internationally

The future belongs to networks


Issues addressed in the Innovation Union

• Clusters and cluster initiatives as the research subject

Why only clusters?

They are structured, they have operators, they can be easily investigated

What distinguishes clusters from other networks?

• Rivalry and proximity


Business networks versus clusters

• Porter’s definition - group of companies existing in geographical neighbourhood … (Porter 1998)

• Three pillars in Ketels and Memedovic approach - geography, creating value and business environment (Ketels, Memedovic 2008)

• Cluster’s attributes by Ketels – proximity, linkages, interactions, critical mass (Ketels 2004)

• Does proximity still counts? (Henry, Pinch 2002)• Knowledge clusters and knowledge hubs (Evers

2008)


Conceptualization of clusters

• Research conducted for the Marshal Office in

Wielkopolska Region, co-financed by the UE

• Research period – September – December 2009

• Research population – local and regional

economic networks operating in Wielkopolska

• Research sample – twelve networks

• Research method – questionnaire and direct in-

depth interviewSustainable economics within the new culture of development, Liege 2011

Methodology of the empirical study


Research sampleLocal economic networks Regional economic networks

Boiler-making Cluster Wielkopolska Telecommunication and Information Cluster

Printing and Advertising Cluster Wielkopolska Automotive Cluster

North-Wielkopolska Cluster in

Tourism

Wielkopolska Network in Food and Agriculture

Wielkopolska Renewable

Energy Cluster

South-Wielkopolska Food

Cluster

Aviation Cluster in

Wielkopolska

Wielkopolska Horses and

Carriages

Wielkopolska Advanced

Automation Technique Cluster –

ELPROTECH

Poznan Local Tourist

Organisation

• Basic features of the business networks in the Wielkopolska

Region

• Activities of the network operator

• Types of networking in the Wielkopolska region

• Ways to support cooperation between enterprises and R&D

institutions

• Barriers to cooperation between companies and science in

the business networks


Research results


Basic features of the networks

83%

83%

58%

50%

50%

42%

33%

33%

17%

17%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Connections between companies intiated by the owners

The lack of capital ties

High level of regional identity

Close, indirect cooperation between companies and R&D entities

Long regional traditon of the branch which is the core of the network

Core role of the netwok broker who initiates the connections

Cooperation between companies and R&D entities with the assistance of…

Strong familly conections within and between companies

The lack of managing structure

The lack of formal structure


Activities of the network operator

100%100%

92%83%

75%67%67%67%67%67%

58%58%58%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Monitoring of the networkDiagnosing the need of the companies in the network

Promotion of the developmnt of the existing companiesCreation the trade mark of the region

Building awarness of the entrepreneursLobbing for subsidies

Attracting new companiesCollecting and sharing offers of R&D entities

BenchamarkingOrganizing meetings with technology suppliers

Lobbying for development of the technical infrastructureTechnical training

Collecting and sharing databases on technology


Types of networking in the Wielkopolska region

75%75%

67%67%67%67%67%67%67%67%

58%58%

50%50%50%

42%42%42%

17%8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

The joint development of new technologiesTransfer of technology and know-how

Supporting the image of new companiesThe joint product promotion

The joint study tours of the managersPersonnel training

The joint acquisition of funds for investmentEntering new markets

The joint implementation of research and development projectsThe joint development of new products

Acquiring new customers (segments) for existing productsThe exchange of strategic information (such as benchmarking)

The joint market researchParticipation in fairs and exhibitions abroad

Improving relationships with suppliers in the manufacturing…The joint development of distribution channels

Assisting ohers in access to specialist services (logistics,…Barter service (service by service)

The joint purchasing of materials (raw materials/equipment)Construction of new units / production facilities


Ways to support cooperation between enterprises and R&D institutions

67%

58%

50%

50%

33%

33%

25%

17%

8%

0%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Intermediation in search of information and intermediaries intechnology transfer

Support for implementation of joint research projects

Programs towards collaboration of companies with scientists

Encouraging enterprises to transfer technologies

Support for intermediaries in the transfer of technology andknowledge

Training for employees of companies organized by the operatorsof R & D

Schemes to facilitate the flow of researchers between science andindustry

Educational programs preparing to write scientific papers

Conducting joint laboratories / research centers involving scienceand industry

Programs to support spin-off company


Barriers to cooperation between companies and science in the business networks

4,55

4,45

4,45

4,45

4,00

4,00

3,91

3,82

3,82

3,82

3,73

3,55

3,55

3,45

3,09

0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5 5

The lack of information on research and development activities

Different time horizons

Differences in defining the objectives of research and development

The lack of capital in enterprises

The lack of capital in science sector

The lack of skilled personnel in enterprises

The uncertainty of the results of joint research and development

The fear for acquisition of technology by competitors

The lack of motivation / envolvment

Difficulties in communication

The lack of scientific approach of entrepreneurs

The lack of administrative support

The mismatch of supply and demand

The lack of skilled personnel in science

The lack of skills and technical resources

• The basic problem is the issue of financing the

networks

• Huge barrier is the mentality of the entrepreneurs

• Scientist have also change their attitude toward

cooperation with companies and change their

perception of knowledge


Conclusions

Thank you


Technology

Liege2011 Maciej pietrzykowski