"Institutional, territorial and evolutionary perspectives on biotechnology"

"Institutional, territorial and evolutionary perspectives on biotechnology"

Seminar and workshop at CIRCLE and the Department of Social and Economic
Geography, Lund University, Sweden, November 7-8, 2007

Biotechnology is often considered the next big wave of technological
change, fuelling the emergence of high-tech industries. Its core
application comprises the medical and health care sectors but applications
across many different industrial fields can be identified. Examples of
emerging niches of biotech are new (functional) food technologies,
environmental and industrial processes, bio-fuels and a range of other
applications in the intersection of science and industry. Owing to its
generic nature and wide applicability in various industries, biotechnology
has made an attractive appeal to policy-makers as a potential vehicle for
economic growth and high value-added job creation. For reasons like these,
the technology has also gained increased attention in the economic and
social sciences during the last couple of decades. In this seminar
different (social) scientific perspectives on biotechnology and related
industries and applications are presented and discussed.

Attendance is free of charge, but we would like you to register by sending
an e-mail to bjorn.asheim@keg.lu.se no later than Nov 4.


Schedule

Wednesday Nov 7, at the Department of Social and Economic Geography,
Geocentrum I, Room 128, Sölvegatan 10, Lund

15.00-15.15: Bjørn Asheim, Lund University, Sweden: Welcome. Presentation
of CIRCLE and introduction to the seminar
15.15-16.00: Maryann Feldman, University of Georgia, USA: Organizational
legacy and firm performance – a study of Scandinavian biotech
16.00-16.45: Finn Valentin, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark: The role
of venture capital in developing bio-clusters – a cross-country comparison
16.45-17.00: Coffee break
17.00-17.45: Fiorenza Belussi and Silvia Sedita, University of Padua,
Italy: The hybrid structure of the life science cluster of Emilia Romagna -
between technological specialisation and related varieties
17.45-18.30: Christian Zeller, University of Bern, Switzerland: The
billion dollar mice – rivalry and cooperation in a technological area
18.30 - Buffet and refreshments on the 5th floor


Thursday Nov 8, at CIRCLE/LUCIE, MNO-Huset, Sölvegatan 16, Lund

09.00-09.45: Phil Cooke, Cardiff University, UK: Clean technologies and
the future of cities
09.45-10.30: Stian Nygaard, Lund University, Sweden: Co-evolution of
technology, markets and institutions: the case of fuel cells and hydrogen
technology in Europe
10.30-11.15: Astrid Szogs, Lund University, Sweden: The role of
institutions in the emergence of regenerative medicine and tissue
engineering
11.15-11.30: Coffee break
11.30-12.15: Lars Coenen, Lund University, Sweden: Biotechnology as a
platform technology - the variegated adoption of biotechnology in
different industrial contexts
12.15-13.00: Meric Gertler, University of Toronto, Canada
13.00- Lunch (sandwiches)


Additional information:
If you arrive early on Wednesday you are welcome to take part in this PhD
defence: "Sites and Modes of Knowledge Creation: On the Spatial
Organization of Biotechnology Innovation" by Jerker Moodysson. Discussant:
Phil Cooke. The defence takes place on Nov 7, 10.15-12.00, at the
Department of Social and Economic Geography, Lund University.


Welcome!

/Bjørn Asheim