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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2009.05.009 Byline: Marina van Geenhuizen (a)(b), Danny P. Soetanto (a) Keywords: Academic spin-off firms; Obstacles; Age; Stage-based development; Critical junctures; Incubation programs Abstract: Support to enhance early growth of academic spin-off firms is at the core of many economic policies. Efficiency of this support has been recently questioned due to slow growth of spin-off firms in various European countries. However, despite many studies to improve support, there is virtually no empirical insight into resistance of obstacles that constrain growth over time and how this differs between distinct types of spin-offs. This article explores the incidence and nature of obstacles to growth in a cross-section and longitudinal approach, and uses Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands) as a case study. We find evidence that (1) the overall ability to overcome obstacles decreases at the age of four, most probably reflecting the rise of the so-called credibility juncture, and that (2) highly innovative spin-offs start with an accumulation of obstacles but move relatively quickly to sustainable growth. The paper concludes with recommendations for the design of new (renewed) incubation policies and for further research. Author Affiliation: (a) Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands (b) OTB Research Institute, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

Living labs, as a methodology to enhance user-centric innovation, have large potentials in bringing inventions to the marketplace, but their performance can benefit more from evaluation. This article develops a novel framework for evaluation of living labs, including (1) a system approach providing an analytical view on living labs’ performance and results; (2) a focus on actor-complexity and boundary-spanning needs; (3) a set of questions concerning, e.g. absorption of user-feedback, satisfaction among actors, and openness and connecting with larger networks; (4) a list of key performance factors; and (5) a focus on participatory evaluation. The design of this evaluation framework rests on a comprehensive literature search and case studies representing different actor complexity, namely home-solutions in healthcare, reconstruction of large (multi)functional buildings, and multiple combinations of activity (university campuses). Key performance factors are found to be: an early involvement of adequately skilled users in multiple learning processes, including absorption of feedback, and a broader but balanced set of actors connecting with upscaling and acceptance in the market. Also, boundaries need to be better bridged by learning how to handle conflicts and deal with intermediation, while respecting shared goals and interests. Specifically, university living labs call for maintaining a solid relation with cities and their actors. Overall, an explicitly designed evaluation framework is a key part of the working plan of living labs. The results also indicate a need for stronger attention for boundary-spanning in evaluation, because living labs are increasingly applied in comprehensive multi-activity settings.

Traditional technologies can have an extended lifetime if companies use various cost-reducing strategies. One of these strategies employed in Western European countries in past decades has been low-cost outsourcing in Central and Eastern Europe, mainly derived from low wages. Specifically, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary are prime destinations for low-cost outsourcing as well as foreign direct investment. However, there is a trend of increased wage levels in Central and Eastern European countries, urging the question of how long (time period) cost advantages can be gained there in the future. Accordingly, in a situation of diminishing cost advantages, the question can be posed to what extent traditional manufacturing will “return” to Western Europe if smart manufacturing methods are being used. This study adopts a scenario-analysis approach in which five scenarios are drawn, particularly focusing on labor cost development and the crucial cost advantage and other critical factors in outsourcing, such as the availability of low-skilled labor, productivity changes, and greening of manufacturing. In one scenario, “reshuffle,” cost reduction will be abandoned as the competitive strategy in favor of high product quality. Each scenario will be examined in terms of attractiveness for outsourcing and potential implications on decisions by companies for (continuing) outsourcing relationships with Central and Eastern Europe.

AbstractLand‐borders and the adjacent regions have attracted considerable attention since the early 1980s. However, there has been a neglect of sea‐borders and the adjacent coastal regions. This paper has the aim to signal differences in development between land‐border and sea‐border regions, based on a different historical development of interaction costs in cross‐border transport and on differences in the characteristics of land‐borders and sea‐borders. To this purpose, the focus is on two types of border impacts on border regions, i.e., interaction between adjacent border regions (mainly in transport) and economic development of these regions. Border impacts are illustrated with examples from a small country, the Netherlands, with an almost equal length of land‐borders and sea‐borders. The paper concludes with a summary and indications of future research.

Policy making with respect to Intelligent Transport Systems has to face a host of uncertainties. These relate to the lack of knowledge about technological developments, about the functionality and the acceptance of the envisaged systems, and about the impacts of these systems once implemented. These uncertainties have important implications for policy choices and the types of policies that should be considered. We first describe a generic typology of uncertainties, their causes, and possible ways to deal with them. Next, we apply this typology to the field of policy making with respect to Intelligent Transport Systems development and implementation. We conclude that a preferred strategy would combine further knowledge acquisition and learning with an adaptive policy. Key elements that need to be elaborated in the development of such a policy are identified.

Interconnectivity of transport networks is a major aim addressed in transport policy today. It refers to different spatial scales and different traffic systems, implying different policy settings. The latter situation explains why interconnectivity as a concept is poorly defined in a generic sense. The paper addresses interconnectivity at a conceptual and operational level, and attempts to identify major generic aspects. Further, it considers interconnectivity in a policy context, by emphasizing its multi‐actor setting. In an empirical case study, the interconnectivity of particular Dutch cities with London is explored, while focusing on the rail and airline system. The paper concludes with a number of interesting issues for future research.

Ill predictability is often a problem in decision making in the domain of traffic and transport. Especially posing problems are the uncertainty of short-term processes in the traffic process, such as congestion, and of long-term forecasts. Results are reported from a study of the limits to predictability. The sources of uncertainty are described: on the one hand, uncertainty and incompleteness of data and models, and, on the other hand, intrinsic uncertainties due to the complexity of the processes, such as chaos and nonlinearity, human behavior, and changing values and goals. The role of uncertainties in decision making is highlighted, and suggestions are given for improving the decision-making process. The role of forecasts in different kinds of decision making, with different kinds of information requirements, is described.

Serviços e Desenvolvimento numa Região em Mudança (Services and Development in a Changing Region). Comissão de Coordenação da Região Centro (Ed.), Coimbra, Comissão de Coordmação da Região Centro, 1993, 443 pp, ISBN 972 659 040 0.Technology Transfer in Europe. David Charles and Jeremy Howells, London, Belhaven Press, 1992, 256 pp., £35.00, ISBN 1 85293 160 4.Technology and Economic Development. The Dynamics of Local, Regional and National Change. E. J. Malecki, Harlow, Longman Scientific & Technical; New York, John Wiley, 1991, 495 pp., ISBN 0 470 21723 5.The Rise of Meso Government in Europe. L. J. Sharpe (Ed.), London, Sage Publications, 1993, 327 pp., £45.00, ISBN 0 8039 8776 5.British Urban Policy and the Urban Development Corporation. Rob Imrie and Huw Thomas (Eds), London, Paul Chapman, 1993, 216 pp., £15.50 pb, ISBN 1 85396 207 4.

Quick scan methods aim at a fast and transparent analysis of alternative solutions to planning problems in a situation of shortage of information. They generate new knowledge about solutions in early stages of decision-making and in ‘creative experiments’ in scenario analysis. The importance of quick scan methods is growing within the trend toward more flexible and interactive approaches in decision-making in policy and planning.This article presents a quick scan of alternative technology options to transport problems, in view of their adoption in the market The technologies involved represent sound efforts to contribute to energy efficiency and a reduction of air pollutants. The perspective used in this quick scan is spatial by emphasising the influence of spatial settlement patterns in scenario thinking on future transport.

VAN GEENHUIZEN M. and VAN DER KNAAP B. (1994) Dutch textile industry in a global economy, Reg. Studies 28, 695-711. Spatial-sectoral studies have often viewed the Dutch textile industry as a homogeneous sector in the last stages of the product life cycle. Accordingly, these studies pay no attention to possible variation to the simple product life cycle model. Our paper explores such variation in the past decades, partially by considering a zonal division of the Netherlands. The paper proceeds with an assessment of variation in the adoption of Post-Fordist strategies. In the literature we find opposing views on the pervasiveness of flexibilization and its spatial impacts. In the latter respect this paper explores the recent and future global shift of textile industry and concomitant threats to the Dutch textile industry.VAN GEENHUIZEN M. et VAN DER KNAAP B. (1994) L'industrie du textile néerlandaise au moment de la globalisation économique, Reg. Studies 28, 695-711. Les études géographiques et sectorielles ont souvent considéré l'industrie du textile néerlandaise comme un secteur homogéne aux derniéres étapes du cycle de vie d'un produit. Par conséquent ces études ne prêtent aucune attention à la variation éventuelle par rapport au modèle de base du cycle de vie d'un produit. Cet article examine une telle variation au cours des dernières décennies, en considérant en partie une délimitation géographique des Pays-Bas en zones. II s'ensuit une évaluation de la variation dans le choix des stratégies adopées au lendemain du Fordisme. La documentation laisse voir des opinions opposées sur la pénétration des modes de production flexibles et son impact géographique. A l'egard de ces derniers impacts, cet article examine la globalisation de l'industrie du textile et les menaces concomitantes pour l'industrie du textile néerlandaise.VAN GEENHUIZEN M. und VAN DER KNAAP B. (1994) Die niederländische Textilindustrie in der globalen Wirtschaft, Reg. Studies 28, 695-711. Räumliche Sektorenuntersu-chungen haben die niederländische Textilindustrie oft als einen homogenen Sektor in den letzten Stadien des Lebenskreislaufes des Produktes betrachtet. Es folgt, daβ diese Untersuchungen mögliche Abweichungen vom ein-fachen Modell des Lebenskreislaufes des Produktes nicht beachten. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht derartige Abweichungen während der vergangenen Jahrzehnte teilweise, indem eine zonale Gliederung der Niederlande erwogen wird. Dem läβt der Aufsatz sodann eine Beurteilung von Abweichungen bei der Annahme von postfordischen Strategien folgen. In der Literatur findet man gegensätzliche Meinungen über die allerorts um sich greifende Flexibilisierung und ihre räumlichen Auswirkungen. In dieser, letzteren, Hinsicht untersucht dieser Aufsatz die vor kurzem erfolgte und zukünftige globale Verschiebung der Textilindustrie, sowie sie begleitende Bedrohungen der niederländischen Textilindustrie.

This article is a reflection on the development and orientation of regional science in Europe in the past decade. It particularly views progress in regional science as a result of new combinations that follow from the pace of advance in theory, research tools and techniques, changes in the map of the European economy, and the rise of new spatial policy questions. Of particular importance are two megatrends that have influenced the orientation of regional science in Europe, namely the unification of Europe and the shift to a network economy.