Conference: Assessing the Functions of the Spanish Tile Innovation System. Gabaldón-Estevan, D.; Engaging the neighbours: science, technology and innovation studies in Amsterdam … and beyond. Amsterdam, (The Netherlands) 2-3 July 2007.

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Assessing the Functions of the
Spanish Tile Innovation System
Daniel Gabaldón-Estevan

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• Previous findings;
• Purpose of the research;
• The functional approach;

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Previous findings (I): Main features
Characterisation of the Spanish Tile Industry
from a Sectorial Perspective (SIS)
The tile industry in Castellon is:
• Not a new industrial activity
• Highly integrated technical production process
& capital intensive
• Supplier dependent for innovations
• Not competitive in low segment markets

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Previous findings (II): The Value Chain

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Previous findings (III): The SIS
(Adapted from Fernandez-de-Lucio et al. 1996 )

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Research question
Role of co-operation for innovation in mature
industries, the case of Spanish Tile Industry.
• Is there co-operation for innovation purposes?
• Who is involved?
• With whom one co-operates?
• Aims of co-operation?

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Theoretical background
• Industrial Districts (co-operation for innovation
occurs inside districts);
• Social Capital (strong ties and high frequency
of contacts elicit redundant information transfer;
weak ties elicit novelty information transfer);
• Innovation Systems (Methodological approach
to analyse the innovative performance of a
system);

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The Functional Approach
How well does the Tile IS perform?
What are the strengths and weaknesses?
F1: Knowledge development and diffusion
F2: Influence on the direction of the search
F3: Entrepreneurial experimentation
F4: Market evolution and competition
F5: Legitimation
F6: Resource mobilization
(M.P. Hekkert et. al. 2006)

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Contribution
The Functional Approach:
• Appropriate tool to asses performance
– Are all main functions covered?
– How dependent is the TIS from external
agents?
• Prospective character
– What are the challenges?
– How aware and ready are the internal
agents?

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Aspects to be studied
• Type of knowledge;
• Variety in knowledge base;
• Interaction / knowledge exchange;
• Counteract resistance to change;
• New directions of innovations;
• Technological options;
• Effects of new legislation;
• New entrepreneurial activity;
• Market evolution influence on innovation;
• Capital, labour and other resources;

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Methodology
• Semi-structured interviews with experts of the
IS (tile producers; frits and glaze producers;
machinery producers; research centers);

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Thank you for your attention
INGENIO (CSIC-UPV)
Camino de Vera s/n
46022 Valencia
SPAIN
www.ingenio.upv.es
dagalbal@ingenio.upv.es
Amsterdam 02/07/2007