Fagbeskrivelse - Innovation and Business Clusters

The Academic Board of Business Administration, Sønderborg
Teaching activity id: 9858101.
Teaching language: English.ECTS / weighting: 5 ECTS / 0.083 full-time equivalent.
Examination language: English.
Exam activity id: 9858102.Approved: 16-03-17.
Period: Autumn 2017.
Grading: Internal grading.
Assessment: 7-point scale.
Offered in: Sønderborg.

Subject director:
Associate Professor Timo Mitze, Department of Business and Economics.

Prerequisites:

A minimum of 2 semesters of studies in BSc or BA programmes in European Studies, Business or Economics. Basic knowledge in micro- and macro-economics as well as statistics is helpful but not required.

Purpose:

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the essential knowledge and analytical skills in important fields of business studies, namely, the analysis of innovation activity and the associated emergence of industrial clusters in high-tech sectors.

To reach this purpose, the course starts with an introduction of basic thematic concepts including the innovation process, innovativeness and industrial clustering, which all have been identified as key success factors for economic development at the firm, sectoral, regional and national level. In terms of research methodology, these concepts are both approached from a theoretical as well as empirical perspective.

In the progress of this course, students shall then subsequently conduct own research studies in the subject at hand. By doing so, the overall course aim is to deepen the students’ knowledge and analytical skills in the fields of innovation and agglomeration economics, competitiveness and business cluster analysis as well as cluster management and supply chain organization.

Further, the course aims to enable students to independently write a seminar-paper on a specific topic in the chosen thematically area.

Content - Key areas:

Innovation and agglomeration economics, competitiveness and cluster analysis, supply chain organization:

Innovation economics and innovation indicators
Creative destruction and entrepreneurship
Agglomeration economics and industrial clusters
Porter’s diamond model for cluster analysis
Cluster management and supply chain organisation

Goals description (SOLO taxonomy):

The student must be able to:

Structure the chosen subject and to write a seminar paper
Provide an multi-structural and comprehensive presentation of the topic
Analyse the issue and compare and relate to theory and empirical examples
Provide an assessment of results and findings and the path of analysis followed.

Literature:

List of literature available at semester start. Below are typical examples listed:

Innovation Economics:

Atkinson, R.; Ezell, S. (2012): “Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage”, Yale University Press.

OECD (1999): “Boosting Innovation: The Cluster Approach”, Paris: OECD.

Swann, P. (2009): “The Economics of Innovation: An Introduction”, Edgar Elgar Publishing.

Agglomeration Economics:

McCann, P. (2006): “Urban and Regional Economics”, Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Capello, R. (2007): “Regional Economics”, Routledge: London & New York.

Business Clusters, cluster management and supply chain organization:

Duranton, G.; Martin, P.; Mayer, T. and F. Mayneris (2010): “The Economics of Clusters”, Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Saric, S. (2012): “Comparative Advantages through Clusters”, Springer Gabler: Wiesbaden.

Baptista, R.; Swann, P. (1998): „Do Firms in Cluster innovate more?“, in: Research Policy, Vol. 27, pp. 525-540.

Fornahl, D.; Brenner, T. (2009): “Geographic concentration of innovative activities in Germany”, in: Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Vol. 20, pp. 163-182.

Guiso, L.; Schivardi, F. (2010): “What determines entrepreneurial clusters?”; in: Journal of the European Economic Association, Vol. 9(1), pp. 61-86.

Porter, M. (2000): Location, Competition and Economic Development: Local Clusters in a Global Economy, in: Economic Development Quarterly, 14(1), pp. 15-34.

Porter, M. (2003): “The Economic Performance of Regions”, in: Regional Studies, Vol. 37(6&7), pp. 549-578.

A comprehensive list of readings and further course information will be available the Blackboard Teaching platform of SDU

Time of classes:

Autumn.

Form of instruction:

Combination of lectures, student presentations and discussions

The course work falls in three parts dealing with theoretical concepts, empirical issues and independent/guided studies. Although the course will change from year to year depending on the topic offered, the total structure will be:

Theoretical concepts and empirical methods:

Lectures: 10 (contact hours)

Independent/guided studies: Seminar paper dealing with empirical and/or theoretical issues. (Total 20 class-unit equivalents)

During the first part of the programs students are expected to develop the theoretical skills required for the independent course work in the second part of the semester. In addition all participants have to give a short 10 minute presentation of the topic selected for the independent/guided studies. At the end of the semester seminar sessions are organized.

The total workload of the course is 1/12 of a semester workload (1620 hours /12 = approx 135 hours):

Lectures: Contact hours (10) and preparation: 60h

Independent study (seminar and student presentation): 75h

Time of examination:

Hand in of key-note paper and oral presentation are a part of the ordinary exam in January. Reexamination in February.

Registration for the course is automatically a registration for the ordinary examination of the course. Cancellation is not possible. If the student does not participate in the examination, the student will use an examination attempt.

The university may grant an exemption from the rules in case of exceptional circumstances.

Please note that the type and form of the re-examination may differ from that of the ordinary examination.

Examination conditions:

None.

Form of examination for the certificate:

Key-note paper and oral presentation.

Supplemental information for the form of examination:

The evaluation is based on a key-note paper and an oral presentation with a 5 min. general examination of the course curriculum (9858102). Groups of two students are allowed. Extent of key-note paper: max. 10-12 pages (individual) or max. 20 pages (group of 2 students). Changes in group size can be approved by the lecturer himself/herself.

Grading: Keynote paper 50%, paper defense 25% and general curriculum 25%.

Electronic hand in via SDU-Assignment in Blackboard.

Please note:

Not for students who have passed the course Empirical Regional Economics and Development, teaching activity No 9074201, or Topics in Regional Economics and Development: Agglomerations, Cities and Cluster, teaching activity No 9329701.

Comments:

If a very limited number of students have selected the course, the study board may decide to cancel it.

The number of students enrolled may be restricted by the Study Board. The enrollment limit is set to 50 students. If the enrolment limit is exceeded preference is granted to full degree students following a compulsory course on a SDU programme. Within the limit, full degree students having selected the course as an elective, guest and exchange students are offered enrolment on a first come first served basis.

Exchange students, if any: Internal grading. Assessment as for ordinary students.

Programmes:
BSc in European Studies, Business Track
5th semester, elective subject. Offered in: Sønderborg
BSc Economics and Business Administration
5th semester, Not chosen, elective subject. Offered in: Sønderborg
BSc in Economics and Business Administration - International Economics and Business Relationships
3rd semester, Not chosen, elective subject. Offered in: Sønderborg
BSc in European Studies, Culture and Politics Track
5th semester, elective subject. Offered in: Sønderborg

Innovation and Business Clusters / Innovation and Business Clusters