By Arne Isaksen, University of Agder, Norway, presented at the 16th TCI Global Conference, Kolding 2013.

1. Clusters and innovation from a Nordic perspective
Arne Isaksen
Cluster Development in Times of Change
5 September 2013

2. Clusters and innovation
from a Nordic perspective
TCI Conference, Kolding, September 5,
2013
Professor Arne Isaksen, University of
Agder

3. Unemployment rate, Q2, 2013
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Denmark
Island
EU27
3.5
8.9
8.0
6.8
5.8
10,9
Source: Eurostat
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4. Global Competiteness Index
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5. 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
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6. 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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7. 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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8. High trust societies
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9. 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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10. 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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11. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
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