Giuseppe Calignano | Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (original) (raw)

Papers by Giuseppe Calignano

Research paper thumbnail of Beyond 'periphery': a detailed and nuanced taxonomy of the Norwegian regions

Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 2022

Increasing attention is being paid towards the influence of regional contexts on innovation activ... more Increasing attention is being paid towards the influence of regional contexts on innovation activities within regional development studies. Some of the literature in economic geography tends to consider the various peripheral areas as being homogenous and partly characterized by their remote location, weak innovation inputs and lack of knowledge exchange. This paper questions this approach by examining the role of innovation activities in peripheral regions. We offer a detailed and multifaceted taxonomy of the Norwegian economic regions. From an empirical viewpoint, the adoption of cluster analysis and a broad set of innovation, economic and territorial indicators allowed us to provide a nuanced picture of the current fabric of Norwegian innovation and economic-production. With the benefit of insights from relevant strands of literature (e.g. regional development, innovation systems and multiscalar innovation networks), the case of Norway presented in our paper contributes to the scholarly debate on the role of structural preconditions for the innovation of firms in diverse peripheral areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Not all peripheries are the same: The importance of relative regional innovativeness in transnational innovation networks

Growth and Change, 2022

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Research paper thumbnail of The core in the periphery? The cluster organization as the central node in the Apulian aerospace district

Research paper thumbnail of Does innovation drive economic resistance? Not in Italy, at least!

Rivista Geografica Italiana, 2020

Innovation is considered a key variable for determining regional economic resistance. However, a ... more Innovation is considered a key variable for determining regional economic resistance. However, a very few studies aiming to determine the existence of a relationship between innovation and regional resilience - in its various dimensions - have been carried out until now. Our paper aims at narrowing the gap in this regard by looking at the ability of 'resistance' showed by the Italian provinces (NUTS3 level) in the 2008-2014 recessionary period. Our statistical analysis reveals that innovation, proxied by employment variation rate in high tech sectors, is not clearly associated with 'resistance' at the regional level. Other variables such as diversity of regional economic activities, GDP variation rate, population density and geographical location are actually associated with a higher degree of resistance, while related variety shows an inverse and statistically significant correlation.

Research paper thumbnail of Innovation-Driven or Challenge-Driven Participation in International Energy Innovation Networks? Empirical Evidence from the H2020 Programme

Sustainability, 2020

The European Union (EU) Framework Programmes represent the ideal platform for exchanging knowledg... more The European Union (EU) Framework Programmes represent the ideal platform for exchanging knowledge potentially leading to innovation outcomes, in addition to providing vital research funds for various types of organisations (firms, universities, agencies, etc.) The present paper aims to assess whether innovativeness ('innovation-driven' participation) or energy demand/vulnerability ('challenge-driven' participation) determine a different degree of participation in the context of the energy programme funded under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020 period). By combining social network analysis and econometrics, our empirical analysis clearly shows that the more innovative EU regions hold a central or key position, while the regions characterised by higher energy demand or vulnerability play a marginal role in the EU energy network. These findings are not dissimilar to what other scholars have observed in relation to different EU programmes and funding schemes. Based on this, we argue that EU policymakers and evaluators should aim at encouraging challenge-driven participation and, more generally, a more balanced participation through appropriate and specific policy actions.

Research paper thumbnail of Better connected, more reputable? On the association between node centrality and academic reputation in the European Union research and innovation networks

European Policy Analysis, 2021

Reputation is often overlooked in the geography of innovation studies, but may represent a releva... more Reputation is often overlooked in the geography of innovation studies, but may represent a relevant outcome of the participation in multi-scalar research and innovation networks. To date, a limited number of studies have outlined how collaborations in inter-organisational networks contribute to build academic reputation and scientific excellence, generally without distinguishing between the two concepts. This paper aims at assessing to what extent the degree of participation in the European Union nanotechnology network contributes to determine the reputation of universities as captured by renowned university rankings. Reputation is conceptualised as either the opinion of other academics about a given university ('academic reputation') or scientific achievements ('scientific excellence'). The findings presented in this paper suggest that cooperation in international inter-organisational networks is not only essential for securing research funds and acquiring new relevant knowledge, but also for positively contributing to shape academic reputation and enhance scientific excellence.

Research paper thumbnail of Agglomeration Economies in the Italian ICT Sector: The Structural Features

Rivista Geografica Italiana, 2019

This paper aims to analyse the structural features of the ICT sector in Italy, along with the pre... more This paper aims to analyse the structural features of the ICT sector in Italy, along with the presence of agglomeration economies. The adoption of principal component analysis (PCA) enabled us to highlight the specificities of the ICT sector in Italy. In particular, our study provides a picture of the features of the ICT sector in Italy as a whole, especially in the urbanized provinces. Moreover, this study reveals the existence of provinces characterized by a high level of competition where new firms tend to be localized. Finally, in line with previous literature on the topic, our empirical analysis shows that the urbanized provinces in Italy are characterized by specialization in the ICT sector as well as a higher level of new firm birth.

Research paper thumbnail of How do firms perceive interactions with researchers in small innovation projects? Advantages and barriers for satisfactory collaborations

Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 2019

The level of interaction between academics and firms seems to be higher than ever, and policymake... more The level of interaction between academics and firms seems to be higher than ever, and policymakers adopt a variety of policies to foster an effective integration between research establishments (REs) and regional industries. This article explores the role of researchers and the interaction between private companies and REs in small innovation projects funded under the Norwegian Programme for Regional R&D and Innovation(VRI). VRI aims to stimulate research-based innovation in regional firms by funding collaboration projects between firms and external researchers. A drawback of innovation policies attempting to stimulate RE–industry collaborations is that they often neglect firms’ perspectives and motivations. Some academic studies argue that systemic approaches focusing on regional development and new path development tend to overlook in-depth analyses at the firm level. This paper aims to combine both approaches by exploring how firms perceive the role of the researchers in the projects, the quality of interactions and, in the end, the outcome of collaborations. Our analysis reveals that the role and motivations of researchers influence the outcome of projects and, from a systemic perspective, that the characteristics of regional innovation systems in which firms operate may represent an advantage or a barrier for satisfactory collaborations.

Research paper thumbnail of Long-distance connections, long-term ties, and novel knowledge networks in technology districts

Scienze Regionali - Italian Journal of Regional Science, 2019

Clusters typically benefit from long-term ties based on mutual trust, even though novel knowledge... more Clusters typically benefit from long-term ties based on mutual trust, even though novel knowledge, provided via networks by new links, is also advantageous. Moreover, long-distance connections are crucial in knowledge exchange dynamics involving organizations located in peripheral or marginally innovative areas. Five different knowledge exchange channels and a dynamic approach were adopted in the research reported in this study to analyze knowledge sources (i.e. national or international) and explore relational and geographical dynamics characterizing a southern Italian aerospace district. The findings of the paper demonstrate a clear association between some channels (i.e., contracts without research content and informal contacts) and knowledge sources at the international level. Moreover, statistical analysis shows the pertinence of absorptive capacity to firms' abilities to establish extra-cluster connections. Finally, this study reveals various dynamics related to the length and strength of ties established by the organizations that comprise the district analyzed.

Research paper thumbnail of Innovation networks and green restructuring: Which path development can EU Framework Programmes stimulate in Norway?

Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography, 2019

This paper examines the engagement of different regions in Norway in the EU's environmental progr... more This paper examines the engagement of different regions in Norway in the EU's environmental programmes. The aim is to explore the programmes' potential for supporting green restructuring through branching and new path creation. The paper assesses which regions participate in the programmes, which international networks they build, and which organisations participate in different regions. It compares three regions with different restructuring needs and research capacity-Rogaland, Hordaland and Sør-Trøndelag. Overall, Norwegian organisations participate relatively frequently in the programmes, but private firms play a marginal role. Their partners are mainly in core EU regions. Regional participation in the programmes is a function of research capacity as well as oil dependence. However, in research-oriented regions, research establishments tend to dominate participation, creating potential for restructuring mainly through path creation. In oil-dependent regions, private firms account for a higher share of participants, enhancing the potential for branching. As the former regions participate more, the programme can mainly stimulate path creation.

Research paper thumbnail of Does the nature of interactions with higher education institutions influence the innovative capabilities of creative firms? the case of a south-western Norwegian county

Quaestiones Geographicae, 2018

Does the nature interactions with HEIs influence the innovative capabilities of creative firms? T... more Does the nature interactions with HEIs influence the innovative capabilities of creative firms? The case of a southwestern Norwegian county. Quastiones Geographicae 37(4), Bogucki Wydawnictwo Nauko-we, Poznań, pp. 97–109. 2 tables. abstraCt: Our study contributes to a limited body of literature and aims to examine the type and frequency of linkages between creative industries and higher education institutions (HEIs). The objective of our study is to investigate the extent to which various types of linkages contribute to enhanced innovative capabilities in creative industries. Based on a qualitative research design and a case study carried out in a peripheral southwestern Norwegian county, our empirical analysis shows that HEIs are generally not very relevant partners and that other actors are mainly involved in innovation dynamics. As clarified and discussed in the paper, this finding largely depends on some specific characteristics of HEIs, the form of knowledge primarily employed by creative firms (symbolic knowledge base), and the cultural divergence between the two spheres.

Research paper thumbnail of Local content in Tanzania: Are local suppliers motivated to improve?

The Extractive Industries and Society, 2018

Firms located in developing countries generally encounter difficulties with meeting the challengi... more Firms located in developing countries generally encounter difficulties with meeting the challenging standards posed by the oil and gas supply chain. It is against this background that the present study aims to reveal to what extent Tanzanian indigenous firms are ‘motivated’ to compete and close the performance gaps vis-à-vis corporate expectations in the petroleum industry. The willingness to share costs and allocate time for an Enterprise Developing Programme are examined. The study reveals that more motivated and well-connected firms blame the government and – to a lesser extent – foreign companies, whereas less motivated firms tend to hold themselves responsible for lack of competitiveness. These results run counter to theories about competitive motivation and catch-up, and therefore lead to interesting implications for each of the actors involved in the Local content dynamic in Tanzania.

Research paper thumbnail of The core in the periphery? The cluster organisation as the central node in the Apulian aerospace district

Regional Studies, 2018

Cluster policy is often ineffective in peripheral regions with weak institutions and significant ... more Cluster policy is often ineffective in peripheral regions with weak institutions and significant barriers to knowledge production and exchange. Nonetheless, many peripheral regions have pursued such policies in recent years, an example being technology districts in Southern Italy. This paper examines one such district, the aerospace district in Apulia, where policy has focused on indirect support for networking through coordination. This has led to a substantial increase in knowledge exchange within the district, but also to a heavy dependence on the cluster organization itself as the key actor in the knowledge exchange network.

Research paper thumbnail of “I want to shake your hand before …”: the role of clients, knowledge exchange and market dynamics in southern Italian software firms

Cogent Social Science, 2018

This study aims to assess the importance of clients in multi-scalar networks leading to learning ... more This study aims to assess the importance of clients in multi-scalar networks leading to learning competence and knowledge exchange. Furthermore, the difficulties encountered by firms located in a peripheral and marginally innovative area in signing commercial agreements with partners located in distant regions are tackled. Our findings, based on qualitative interviews, reveal that clients are considered to be the most important partners by the founders, owners and professionals of software firms located in the marginally innovative province of Lecce (southeastern Italy). Furthermore, being located in a peripheral area is not seen as a limitation from the technical–infrastructural viewpoint thanks to the opportunity offered by new technologies (e.g. the Internet) and computer-mediated communications. Conversely, the contracting of business agreements with partners located in distant markets is negatively influenced by the geographical distance from potential clients due to the need for previous acquaintance or face-to-face contact engendering trust.

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-firm learning and local participation in emerging African oil nations

2nd Academy of Business and Emerging Markets (ABEM) Conference Proceedings

Research paper thumbnail of Turismo e sviluppo locale sostenibile: il Parco Naturale Regionale Costa Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase nella Macroregione Adriatico-Ionica

Geotema, 2015

The “Costa Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase” Regional Natural Park is the only c... more The “Costa Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase” Regional Natural Park is the only coastal park in Apulia. The Park is a real point of reference for the sustainable tourism and, broadly speaking, for the sustainable local development perspectives of the area. Salento is renowned especially for its seas and beaches, but the real strong points of this area are its environmental and cultural elements.
Moreover, the recent creation of the Ionian-Adriatic Macroregion offers a further precious contribution to strengthen both the ongoing actions and the future projects started by the Park and the promotion of the attractiveness of the entire area. Therefore, the aim of this paper is precisely to assess the strengths and weaknesses by means of reconstruction of the relationships between the Park and other private and public bodies since it was founded in 2006. Furthermore, the major
actions carried out by the Park so far are analyzed and several development proposals are taken into consideration with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of the previous actions and to verify the expected effects of the Macroregion strategy at a local level.

Research paper thumbnail of An assessment of agritourism in Salento in the era of the internet

Geotema, 2016

Apulia is the region with the highest overall growth rate of agritourism units in Italy in the pe... more Apulia is the region with the highest overall growth rate of agritourism units in Italy in the period 2008-2012. This
article aims at analysing and assessing the prospective demand, dynamics, evolution and number of these specific rural
facilities in Salento – a sub-region of Apulia formed by the provinces of Lecce, Brindisi and Taranto – in the so-called “era
of the internet”. By using quantitative and qualitative techniques it has been able to determine that Lecce is the leading
province in Salento and in Apulia in terms of number and diffusion of agritourism facilities. Furthermore, the findings
of this study suggest that the possibilities offered by the internet and the new media are not sufficiently used by agritourism
operators in Salento and in other areas – like in Tuscany and Trentino-Alto Adige, where agritourism activities boast a
long tradition – to promote their services and products they offer.

Research paper thumbnail of Nanotechnology as a proxy to capture regional economic development? New findings from the European Union Framework Programmes

Nanotechnology Reviews, 2017

The European Union has included nanotechnology in the Key Enabling Technologies helping countries... more The European Union has included nanotechnology in the Key Enabling Technologies helping countries to tackle current and future societal challenges thanks to their applications in multiple industries. Furthermore, one theme named “Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies,
Materials and New Production Technologies” was included in the Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes with the purpose to finance organizations specifically involved in nanotechnology activities. The empirical analysis presented in this paper aims to reconstruct the participation of the Italian private, public and public-private organizations at the regional level in the European Union nanotechnology network. The hypothesis is that a high share of private organizations and a well-balanced proportion of private and public entities are beneficial for knowledge circulation potentially leading to innovation. This paper confirms the findings of other recent studies by revealing that the participation of private, public and public-private organizations at the European Union level overlaps the distribution of the nanotechnology activities in Italy and the regional disparities in the country. More in general, this paper strengthens the concept that the interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology and the collaborations fostered by the Framework Programmes enable researchers to capture regional
economic development from a global viewpoint.

Research paper thumbnail of Supplier Development in Tanzania; Experiences, expectations and motivation

This paper contributes to a limited number of empirical studies focusing on African suppliers mee... more This paper contributes to a limited number of empirical studies focusing on African suppliers meeting international sourcing requirements in host countries. The present article is based on a survey of 110 companies targeting the emerging oil and gas industry and follows an explorative study design aiming to examine experiences, preferences and motivation of potential suppliers located in Tanzania. Techniques such as cluster analysis, graph visualization, descriptive statistics and concepts from social network analysis (SNA) were adopted to carry out the study. Our analyses show that only 15% of targeted firms collaborate, or have previously collaborated, with two or more companies and that close to one-third of the firms are unwilling to contribute financially for a training/development programme. Finally, a majority of the
firms are willing to spend 15 days or less, which is assumed to be far below the minimum for an effective inter-firm improvement programme. Perhaps more interestingly, our study reveals that “open
firms” are also more positive to contribute in improvement programmes. Several implications and guidance can be drawn from this study (e.g. need of a greater number of inter-firm collaborations, joint development initiatives including also foreign supplier firms, international oil companies and learning institutions).

Research paper thumbnail of Strengthening relationships in clusters: How effective is an indirect policy measure carried out in a peripheral region?

The Annals of Regional Science, 2017

Studies of the effects of specific policy measures for innovation have focused mainly on actions ... more Studies of the effects of specific policy measures for innovation have
focused mainly on actions based on direct R&D support. However, the innovation studies literature sees innovation as an interactive process, emphasising the role of knowledge exchange for successful innovation. Furthermore, it is increasingly accepted that co-location is not sufficient for knowledge exchange to occur. Consequently, there is also a need to assess the effectiveness of policy measures to promote knowledge exchange between co-located actors. The objective of this paper is to narrowthis gap by exploring the outcome of an indirect policy in stimulating coordination and networking. The paper analyses policies for increased networking in a mechatronics district located in the peripheral and less innovative region Apulia (Southern Italy). The success of the coordination and networking action is examined by adopting a longitudinal approach. In order to assess the association of the policy with the overall network structure, social network analysis is used to analyse the data. We compare characteristics of the network in the early and later phase of the district across five dimensions of knowledge exchange, identifying a large increase in the use of partnerships
as the main effect of the policy.

Research paper thumbnail of Beyond 'periphery': a detailed and nuanced taxonomy of the Norwegian regions

Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 2022

Increasing attention is being paid towards the influence of regional contexts on innovation activ... more Increasing attention is being paid towards the influence of regional contexts on innovation activities within regional development studies. Some of the literature in economic geography tends to consider the various peripheral areas as being homogenous and partly characterized by their remote location, weak innovation inputs and lack of knowledge exchange. This paper questions this approach by examining the role of innovation activities in peripheral regions. We offer a detailed and multifaceted taxonomy of the Norwegian economic regions. From an empirical viewpoint, the adoption of cluster analysis and a broad set of innovation, economic and territorial indicators allowed us to provide a nuanced picture of the current fabric of Norwegian innovation and economic-production. With the benefit of insights from relevant strands of literature (e.g. regional development, innovation systems and multiscalar innovation networks), the case of Norway presented in our paper contributes to the scholarly debate on the role of structural preconditions for the innovation of firms in diverse peripheral areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Not all peripheries are the same: The importance of relative regional innovativeness in transnational innovation networks

Growth and Change, 2022

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Research paper thumbnail of The core in the periphery? The cluster organization as the central node in the Apulian aerospace district

Research paper thumbnail of Does innovation drive economic resistance? Not in Italy, at least!

Rivista Geografica Italiana, 2020

Innovation is considered a key variable for determining regional economic resistance. However, a ... more Innovation is considered a key variable for determining regional economic resistance. However, a very few studies aiming to determine the existence of a relationship between innovation and regional resilience - in its various dimensions - have been carried out until now. Our paper aims at narrowing the gap in this regard by looking at the ability of 'resistance' showed by the Italian provinces (NUTS3 level) in the 2008-2014 recessionary period. Our statistical analysis reveals that innovation, proxied by employment variation rate in high tech sectors, is not clearly associated with 'resistance' at the regional level. Other variables such as diversity of regional economic activities, GDP variation rate, population density and geographical location are actually associated with a higher degree of resistance, while related variety shows an inverse and statistically significant correlation.

Research paper thumbnail of Innovation-Driven or Challenge-Driven Participation in International Energy Innovation Networks? Empirical Evidence from the H2020 Programme

Sustainability, 2020

The European Union (EU) Framework Programmes represent the ideal platform for exchanging knowledg... more The European Union (EU) Framework Programmes represent the ideal platform for exchanging knowledge potentially leading to innovation outcomes, in addition to providing vital research funds for various types of organisations (firms, universities, agencies, etc.) The present paper aims to assess whether innovativeness ('innovation-driven' participation) or energy demand/vulnerability ('challenge-driven' participation) determine a different degree of participation in the context of the energy programme funded under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020 period). By combining social network analysis and econometrics, our empirical analysis clearly shows that the more innovative EU regions hold a central or key position, while the regions characterised by higher energy demand or vulnerability play a marginal role in the EU energy network. These findings are not dissimilar to what other scholars have observed in relation to different EU programmes and funding schemes. Based on this, we argue that EU policymakers and evaluators should aim at encouraging challenge-driven participation and, more generally, a more balanced participation through appropriate and specific policy actions.

Research paper thumbnail of Better connected, more reputable? On the association between node centrality and academic reputation in the European Union research and innovation networks

European Policy Analysis, 2021

Reputation is often overlooked in the geography of innovation studies, but may represent a releva... more Reputation is often overlooked in the geography of innovation studies, but may represent a relevant outcome of the participation in multi-scalar research and innovation networks. To date, a limited number of studies have outlined how collaborations in inter-organisational networks contribute to build academic reputation and scientific excellence, generally without distinguishing between the two concepts. This paper aims at assessing to what extent the degree of participation in the European Union nanotechnology network contributes to determine the reputation of universities as captured by renowned university rankings. Reputation is conceptualised as either the opinion of other academics about a given university ('academic reputation') or scientific achievements ('scientific excellence'). The findings presented in this paper suggest that cooperation in international inter-organisational networks is not only essential for securing research funds and acquiring new relevant knowledge, but also for positively contributing to shape academic reputation and enhance scientific excellence.

Research paper thumbnail of Agglomeration Economies in the Italian ICT Sector: The Structural Features

Rivista Geografica Italiana, 2019

This paper aims to analyse the structural features of the ICT sector in Italy, along with the pre... more This paper aims to analyse the structural features of the ICT sector in Italy, along with the presence of agglomeration economies. The adoption of principal component analysis (PCA) enabled us to highlight the specificities of the ICT sector in Italy. In particular, our study provides a picture of the features of the ICT sector in Italy as a whole, especially in the urbanized provinces. Moreover, this study reveals the existence of provinces characterized by a high level of competition where new firms tend to be localized. Finally, in line with previous literature on the topic, our empirical analysis shows that the urbanized provinces in Italy are characterized by specialization in the ICT sector as well as a higher level of new firm birth.

Research paper thumbnail of How do firms perceive interactions with researchers in small innovation projects? Advantages and barriers for satisfactory collaborations

Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 2019

The level of interaction between academics and firms seems to be higher than ever, and policymake... more The level of interaction between academics and firms seems to be higher than ever, and policymakers adopt a variety of policies to foster an effective integration between research establishments (REs) and regional industries. This article explores the role of researchers and the interaction between private companies and REs in small innovation projects funded under the Norwegian Programme for Regional R&D and Innovation(VRI). VRI aims to stimulate research-based innovation in regional firms by funding collaboration projects between firms and external researchers. A drawback of innovation policies attempting to stimulate RE–industry collaborations is that they often neglect firms’ perspectives and motivations. Some academic studies argue that systemic approaches focusing on regional development and new path development tend to overlook in-depth analyses at the firm level. This paper aims to combine both approaches by exploring how firms perceive the role of the researchers in the projects, the quality of interactions and, in the end, the outcome of collaborations. Our analysis reveals that the role and motivations of researchers influence the outcome of projects and, from a systemic perspective, that the characteristics of regional innovation systems in which firms operate may represent an advantage or a barrier for satisfactory collaborations.

Research paper thumbnail of Long-distance connections, long-term ties, and novel knowledge networks in technology districts

Scienze Regionali - Italian Journal of Regional Science, 2019

Clusters typically benefit from long-term ties based on mutual trust, even though novel knowledge... more Clusters typically benefit from long-term ties based on mutual trust, even though novel knowledge, provided via networks by new links, is also advantageous. Moreover, long-distance connections are crucial in knowledge exchange dynamics involving organizations located in peripheral or marginally innovative areas. Five different knowledge exchange channels and a dynamic approach were adopted in the research reported in this study to analyze knowledge sources (i.e. national or international) and explore relational and geographical dynamics characterizing a southern Italian aerospace district. The findings of the paper demonstrate a clear association between some channels (i.e., contracts without research content and informal contacts) and knowledge sources at the international level. Moreover, statistical analysis shows the pertinence of absorptive capacity to firms' abilities to establish extra-cluster connections. Finally, this study reveals various dynamics related to the length and strength of ties established by the organizations that comprise the district analyzed.

Research paper thumbnail of Innovation networks and green restructuring: Which path development can EU Framework Programmes stimulate in Norway?

Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography, 2019

This paper examines the engagement of different regions in Norway in the EU's environmental progr... more This paper examines the engagement of different regions in Norway in the EU's environmental programmes. The aim is to explore the programmes' potential for supporting green restructuring through branching and new path creation. The paper assesses which regions participate in the programmes, which international networks they build, and which organisations participate in different regions. It compares three regions with different restructuring needs and research capacity-Rogaland, Hordaland and Sør-Trøndelag. Overall, Norwegian organisations participate relatively frequently in the programmes, but private firms play a marginal role. Their partners are mainly in core EU regions. Regional participation in the programmes is a function of research capacity as well as oil dependence. However, in research-oriented regions, research establishments tend to dominate participation, creating potential for restructuring mainly through path creation. In oil-dependent regions, private firms account for a higher share of participants, enhancing the potential for branching. As the former regions participate more, the programme can mainly stimulate path creation.

Research paper thumbnail of Does the nature of interactions with higher education institutions influence the innovative capabilities of creative firms? the case of a south-western Norwegian county

Quaestiones Geographicae, 2018

Does the nature interactions with HEIs influence the innovative capabilities of creative firms? T... more Does the nature interactions with HEIs influence the innovative capabilities of creative firms? The case of a southwestern Norwegian county. Quastiones Geographicae 37(4), Bogucki Wydawnictwo Nauko-we, Poznań, pp. 97–109. 2 tables. abstraCt: Our study contributes to a limited body of literature and aims to examine the type and frequency of linkages between creative industries and higher education institutions (HEIs). The objective of our study is to investigate the extent to which various types of linkages contribute to enhanced innovative capabilities in creative industries. Based on a qualitative research design and a case study carried out in a peripheral southwestern Norwegian county, our empirical analysis shows that HEIs are generally not very relevant partners and that other actors are mainly involved in innovation dynamics. As clarified and discussed in the paper, this finding largely depends on some specific characteristics of HEIs, the form of knowledge primarily employed by creative firms (symbolic knowledge base), and the cultural divergence between the two spheres.

Research paper thumbnail of Local content in Tanzania: Are local suppliers motivated to improve?

The Extractive Industries and Society, 2018

Firms located in developing countries generally encounter difficulties with meeting the challengi... more Firms located in developing countries generally encounter difficulties with meeting the challenging standards posed by the oil and gas supply chain. It is against this background that the present study aims to reveal to what extent Tanzanian indigenous firms are ‘motivated’ to compete and close the performance gaps vis-à-vis corporate expectations in the petroleum industry. The willingness to share costs and allocate time for an Enterprise Developing Programme are examined. The study reveals that more motivated and well-connected firms blame the government and – to a lesser extent – foreign companies, whereas less motivated firms tend to hold themselves responsible for lack of competitiveness. These results run counter to theories about competitive motivation and catch-up, and therefore lead to interesting implications for each of the actors involved in the Local content dynamic in Tanzania.

Research paper thumbnail of The core in the periphery? The cluster organisation as the central node in the Apulian aerospace district

Regional Studies, 2018

Cluster policy is often ineffective in peripheral regions with weak institutions and significant ... more Cluster policy is often ineffective in peripheral regions with weak institutions and significant barriers to knowledge production and exchange. Nonetheless, many peripheral regions have pursued such policies in recent years, an example being technology districts in Southern Italy. This paper examines one such district, the aerospace district in Apulia, where policy has focused on indirect support for networking through coordination. This has led to a substantial increase in knowledge exchange within the district, but also to a heavy dependence on the cluster organization itself as the key actor in the knowledge exchange network.

Research paper thumbnail of “I want to shake your hand before …”: the role of clients, knowledge exchange and market dynamics in southern Italian software firms

Cogent Social Science, 2018

This study aims to assess the importance of clients in multi-scalar networks leading to learning ... more This study aims to assess the importance of clients in multi-scalar networks leading to learning competence and knowledge exchange. Furthermore, the difficulties encountered by firms located in a peripheral and marginally innovative area in signing commercial agreements with partners located in distant regions are tackled. Our findings, based on qualitative interviews, reveal that clients are considered to be the most important partners by the founders, owners and professionals of software firms located in the marginally innovative province of Lecce (southeastern Italy). Furthermore, being located in a peripheral area is not seen as a limitation from the technical–infrastructural viewpoint thanks to the opportunity offered by new technologies (e.g. the Internet) and computer-mediated communications. Conversely, the contracting of business agreements with partners located in distant markets is negatively influenced by the geographical distance from potential clients due to the need for previous acquaintance or face-to-face contact engendering trust.

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-firm learning and local participation in emerging African oil nations

2nd Academy of Business and Emerging Markets (ABEM) Conference Proceedings

Research paper thumbnail of Turismo e sviluppo locale sostenibile: il Parco Naturale Regionale Costa Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase nella Macroregione Adriatico-Ionica

Geotema, 2015

The “Costa Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase” Regional Natural Park is the only c... more The “Costa Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase” Regional Natural Park is the only coastal park in Apulia. The Park is a real point of reference for the sustainable tourism and, broadly speaking, for the sustainable local development perspectives of the area. Salento is renowned especially for its seas and beaches, but the real strong points of this area are its environmental and cultural elements.
Moreover, the recent creation of the Ionian-Adriatic Macroregion offers a further precious contribution to strengthen both the ongoing actions and the future projects started by the Park and the promotion of the attractiveness of the entire area. Therefore, the aim of this paper is precisely to assess the strengths and weaknesses by means of reconstruction of the relationships between the Park and other private and public bodies since it was founded in 2006. Furthermore, the major
actions carried out by the Park so far are analyzed and several development proposals are taken into consideration with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of the previous actions and to verify the expected effects of the Macroregion strategy at a local level.

Research paper thumbnail of An assessment of agritourism in Salento in the era of the internet

Geotema, 2016

Apulia is the region with the highest overall growth rate of agritourism units in Italy in the pe... more Apulia is the region with the highest overall growth rate of agritourism units in Italy in the period 2008-2012. This
article aims at analysing and assessing the prospective demand, dynamics, evolution and number of these specific rural
facilities in Salento – a sub-region of Apulia formed by the provinces of Lecce, Brindisi and Taranto – in the so-called “era
of the internet”. By using quantitative and qualitative techniques it has been able to determine that Lecce is the leading
province in Salento and in Apulia in terms of number and diffusion of agritourism facilities. Furthermore, the findings
of this study suggest that the possibilities offered by the internet and the new media are not sufficiently used by agritourism
operators in Salento and in other areas – like in Tuscany and Trentino-Alto Adige, where agritourism activities boast a
long tradition – to promote their services and products they offer.

Research paper thumbnail of Nanotechnology as a proxy to capture regional economic development? New findings from the European Union Framework Programmes

Nanotechnology Reviews, 2017

The European Union has included nanotechnology in the Key Enabling Technologies helping countries... more The European Union has included nanotechnology in the Key Enabling Technologies helping countries to tackle current and future societal challenges thanks to their applications in multiple industries. Furthermore, one theme named “Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies,
Materials and New Production Technologies” was included in the Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes with the purpose to finance organizations specifically involved in nanotechnology activities. The empirical analysis presented in this paper aims to reconstruct the participation of the Italian private, public and public-private organizations at the regional level in the European Union nanotechnology network. The hypothesis is that a high share of private organizations and a well-balanced proportion of private and public entities are beneficial for knowledge circulation potentially leading to innovation. This paper confirms the findings of other recent studies by revealing that the participation of private, public and public-private organizations at the European Union level overlaps the distribution of the nanotechnology activities in Italy and the regional disparities in the country. More in general, this paper strengthens the concept that the interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology and the collaborations fostered by the Framework Programmes enable researchers to capture regional
economic development from a global viewpoint.

Research paper thumbnail of Supplier Development in Tanzania; Experiences, expectations and motivation

This paper contributes to a limited number of empirical studies focusing on African suppliers mee... more This paper contributes to a limited number of empirical studies focusing on African suppliers meeting international sourcing requirements in host countries. The present article is based on a survey of 110 companies targeting the emerging oil and gas industry and follows an explorative study design aiming to examine experiences, preferences and motivation of potential suppliers located in Tanzania. Techniques such as cluster analysis, graph visualization, descriptive statistics and concepts from social network analysis (SNA) were adopted to carry out the study. Our analyses show that only 15% of targeted firms collaborate, or have previously collaborated, with two or more companies and that close to one-third of the firms are unwilling to contribute financially for a training/development programme. Finally, a majority of the
firms are willing to spend 15 days or less, which is assumed to be far below the minimum for an effective inter-firm improvement programme. Perhaps more interestingly, our study reveals that “open
firms” are also more positive to contribute in improvement programmes. Several implications and guidance can be drawn from this study (e.g. need of a greater number of inter-firm collaborations, joint development initiatives including also foreign supplier firms, international oil companies and learning institutions).

Research paper thumbnail of Strengthening relationships in clusters: How effective is an indirect policy measure carried out in a peripheral region?

The Annals of Regional Science, 2017

Studies of the effects of specific policy measures for innovation have focused mainly on actions ... more Studies of the effects of specific policy measures for innovation have
focused mainly on actions based on direct R&D support. However, the innovation studies literature sees innovation as an interactive process, emphasising the role of knowledge exchange for successful innovation. Furthermore, it is increasingly accepted that co-location is not sufficient for knowledge exchange to occur. Consequently, there is also a need to assess the effectiveness of policy measures to promote knowledge exchange between co-located actors. The objective of this paper is to narrowthis gap by exploring the outcome of an indirect policy in stimulating coordination and networking. The paper analyses policies for increased networking in a mechatronics district located in the peripheral and less innovative region Apulia (Southern Italy). The success of the coordination and networking action is examined by adopting a longitudinal approach. In order to assess the association of the policy with the overall network structure, social network analysis is used to analyse the data. We compare characteristics of the network in the early and later phase of the district across five dimensions of knowledge exchange, identifying a large increase in the use of partnerships
as the main effect of the policy.

Research paper thumbnail of The Geography of Nanotechnology in Italy

Cacucci Editore, 2019

The geography of nanotechnology in Italy assesses Italy’s role in the international ‘nanotechnolo... more The geography of nanotechnology in Italy assesses Italy’s role in the international ‘nanotechnology race’ and analyse the Italian regions’ economic development based on their engagement in nanotechnology activities. Thanks to spatial analysis and a relational approach to economic geography studies, this book sheds light on the nanotechnology activities carried out in Italy, through secondary data (e.g. official statistics and databases) and in-depth reviews of previously published case studies. Special attention is devoted to the impact of nanotechnology in the various Italian regions in light of the long-lasting disparities that characterise the socio-economic development of the country.

“Giuseppe Calignano’s book on the geography of nanotechnology in Italy is a timely and important contribution to the innovation studies literature” – Rune Dahl Fitjar

“The geography of nanotechnology in Italy represents a real benchmark in the field of geography of innovation in Italy” – Fabio Pollice