Location and the Innovation Performance of Commercial GIS Companies

This paper looks at the role of firm size, location, and in‐house research and development (R&D) in the innovation performance of U.S. firms in the commercial geographic information systems (GIS) industry. Data from a survey of 300 GIS firms are presented. The results suggest that innovation‐intensity varies directly with in‐house R&D spending (scaled as a proportion of company sales), but inversely with company size (total employment). Significant regional variations in the innovation performance of GIS firms are identified. It is argued that the geography of innovation is influenced by the spatial distribution of young and/or small firms, in that R&D‐productivity is found to vary inversely with company size. An important finding is that creative inputs to support innovation are almost evenly divided between internal and external sources. A surprising result is that the academic community is not viewed as a particularly important source of new ideas for innovative firms. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the survey data for future empirical work on the GIS sector.     

A Spatial Analysis of the R&D‐Productivity Nexus at Firm Level

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of research and development (R&D) on productivity by taking into account productivity spillovers. To this end, by using a sample of Italian manufacturing firms over the period 2004–2006 provided by the Xth UniCredit‐Capitalia survey (2008), we have analyzed the role of R&D in firm productivity by using a spatial autoregressive model. In so doing, we have allowed the productivity of each firm to be affected by the productivity of nearby firms. Results show that R&D significantly affects Italian firm productivity and that productivity spillovers across firms matter. Moreover, productivity is found to be positively affected by intrasectoral R&D spillovers, while intersectoral R&D spillovers do not have a significant effect.     

From R&D to Innovation and Economic Growth in the EU

ABSTRACT Over the last two decades many European governments have pursued ambitious research and development (R&D) policies with the aim of fostering innovation and economic growth in peripheral regions of Europe. The question is whether these policies are paying off. Arguments such as the need to reach a minimum threshold of research, the existence of important distance decay effects in the diffusion of technological spillovers, the presence of increasing returns to scale in R&D investments, or the unavailability of the necessary socio‐economic conditions in these regions to generate innovation seem to cast doubts about the possible returns of these sort of policies. This paper addresses this question. A two‐step analysis is used in order to first identify the impact of R&D investment of the private, public, and higher education sectors on innovation (measured as the number of patent applications per million population). The influence of innovation and innovation growth on economic growth is then addressed. The results indicate that R&D investment, as a whole, and higher education R&D investment in peripheral regions of the EU, in particular, are positively associated with innovation. The existence and strength of this association are, however, contingent upon region‐specific socio‐economic characteristics, which affect the capacity of each region to transform R&D investment into innovation and, eventually, innovation into economic growth.     

Some Micro‐Evidence on the “Porter Hypothesis” from Austrian VOC Emission Standards

This paper presents some micro‐evidence relevant to the “Porter Hypothesis” on the techno‐economic consequences of Austrian Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission standards, the most restrictive of their kind in the world. Using firm‐level survey data and complementing it with highly disaggregated foreign trade data, the paper explores whether the standards had a palpable impact on the competitiveness of Austrian manufacturers of paints, coatings, printing inks, and adhesives, whether compliance stimulated innovation in this industry, whether the standards crowded out other, more productive Research and Development (R&D), and whether compliance efforts gave rise to unexpected benefits of compliance. It finds no unequivocal aggregate impact on the competitiveness of regulated firms, yet does find some interesting variation with firm size. Moreover, the standards appear to have dampened import competition. The standards gave rise to considerable changes in firms’ product range and appear to have accelerated the rate of product innovation in the regulated industry. R&D spending to develop compliant products is found to be very unevenly distributed, mainly due to technological and, to a lesser extent, organizational factors. There is evidence that compliance efforts displaced or postponed existing R&D projects. However, there is also evidence that search for compliant products yielded unexpected and beneficial ideas, knowledge, and competencies.     

Efficiency of Embodied Technology Spillovers

Technological progress is the key competitive ability of a society.A society's technological progress depends on it's ability of research and development (R&D) and the absorption of R&D spillovers. Since China is a developing country, which is comparatively short of R&D expenditure and activity, it is absolutely necessarily to utilize R&D spillovers. This paper analyses the relation among destination-specific AC (Absorption Capacity) , source- and destination-specific SS (Structural Similarity) and embodied technology spillovers by one-sector and three-areas GTAP models. The conclusion is:Being 'neutral' in nature, the exogenous Hicks-Neutral Technical Progress shock uniformly reduces the input requirements associated with producing a given level of output of stuff.     

The Innovativeness and Heterogeneity of Foreign‐Invested High‐Tech Companies in Shanghai

China has taken a foreign direct investment‐based approach toward increasing its capital and knowledge base, and developing into an innovative economy. However, little quantitative evidence exists about the factors that drive innovations of foreign‐invested enterprises (FIEs) there. This paper uses survey data from high‐technology firms in Shanghai to discuss factors affecting their innovativeness. It takes the concepts of absorptive capacity, export orientation, and innovation‐related cooperation as a starting point. It highlights how the interplay of strategies and resources affects innovativeness and heterogeneity of FIEs. The most innovative FIEs are endowed with a strong human capital base and R&D activities, which at the same time target export markets and whose cooperative partners involve firms other than their parent company. The results underline the necessity to differentiate between the different types of FIEs when examining their innovativeness.     

Government support and firm innovation performance in Chinese science and technology parks: The perspective of firm and sub-park heterogeneity

Science and technology parks (STPs) are established to promote the firm innovation performance via agglomeration economy and government support in China. On-site qualified firms obtain government R&D funding as a type of government support, and they are offered differential innovation service caused by the differential capabilities of sub-parks which scatter throughout a single city. It is debatable whether those government supports at firm and sub-park levels can promote firm innovation capabilities. This study takes Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone, Shanghai as an example. It applies a Tobit regression model to analyse the databases of Zhangjiang Annual Sampling Survey of Firms 2015 and Zhangjiang Development Report 2015. We find out at the firm level, government R&D funding has a significant and positive influence on firms' innovation, but government R&D funding generates a crowing-out effect the innovation performance of on-site firms with more R&D investment themselves. At the sub-park level, innovation service agencies of sub-parks do not exert an important role in influencing firms' innovation, and they even have negative moderating effects on the relationship between firm R&D investment and firm innovation performance. It reflects the mismatch between innovation service of STPs and firms' needs in China.     

Genetic mapping within the wheat D genome reveals QTL for germination, seed vigour and longevity, and early seedling growth

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling germination, seed vigour and longevity, and early seedling growth were identified using a set of common wheat lines carrying known D genome introgression segments. Seed germination (capacity, timing, rate and synchronicity) was characterized by a standard germination test, based either on the 1 mm root protrusion (germination sensu stricto) or the development of normal seedlings. To quantify seed vigour, the same traits were measured from batches of seed exposed for 72 h at 43°C and high (ca. 100%) humidity. Seed longevity was evaluated from the relative trait values. Seedling growth was assessed both under non-stressed and under osmotic stress conditions. Twenty QTL were mapped to chromosomes 1D, 2D, 4D, 5D, and 7D. Most of the QTL for germination sensu stricto clustered on chromosome 1DS in the region Xgwm1291–Xgwm337. A region on chromosome 7DS associated with Xgwm1002 harboured loci controlling the development of normal seedlings. Seed vigour-related QTL were present in a region of chromosome 5DL linked to Xgwm960. QTL for seed longevity were coincident with those for germination or seed vigour on chromosomes 1D or 5D. QTL for seedling growth were identified on chromosomes 4D and 5D. A candidate homologues search suggested the putative functions of the genes within the respective regions. These results offer perspectives for the selection of favourable alleles to improve certain vigour traits in wheat, although the negative effects of the same chromosome regions on other traits may limit their practical use.     

Evolution of the Geography of Innovation: Evidence from Patent Data

This paper examines the evolution of patent activities across U.S. states from 1963 to 1997. Several patterns are uncovered. First, there is invention catch‐up by some lagging states. Second, the evidence is consistent with knowledge diffusion. Third, leading states unable to reinvent themselves lose their leads. Fourth, catch‐up can be across a diverse field of activities or focused on select activities. State patent growth is positively correlated to industry R&D and a variable capturing labor skill and infrastructure quality. These provide rationale for state policy makers to increase support to programs that enhance labor skill (e.g., education) and infrastructure quality.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and utilization efficiency in D(R) substitution lines of hexaploid triticale

Two sets of disomic substitution lines, derived from the cultivars ‘Presto’ and ‘Rhino’ of triticale, with rye chromosome pairs replaced by their wheat D‐genome homoeologues, were tested in hydroponic culture for nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and utilization efficiency. The effect of a substitution on the amount of absorbed nutrients was predominantly negative and proportional to the effect on plant dry matter. Significant decreases were found for the substitutions 5D(5R), 6D(6R) of both cultivars, 2D(2R), 4D(4R) of ‘Presto’ and 3D(3R) of ‘Rhino’. On the other hand, the nitrogen utilization efficiency was significantly increased in all substitution lines, with the exception of the 1D(1R) ones. The differences in phosphorus utilization were generally positive, but less pronounced, and significant only in the lines 2D(2R) and 6D(6R). The data suggest that presence of both rye and D‐genome chromosomes is conducive for the best effect of the applied N and P fertilizers.     

Growth,Photosynthetic Characteristics,Antioxidant Capacity and Biomass Yield and Quality of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Exposed to LED Light Sources with Different Spectra Combinations

As a consequence of the increasing importance of crop in Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS), there is an interest in enhancing both the productivity and quality of wheat. Lighting systems for growing wheat need to be lightweight, reliable and durable. Light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) have these characteristics. Previous studies demonstrated that the combination of red and blue lights was an effective light source for several crops. Yet the appearance of plant in this kind of lighting was purplish grey, and other problems were also accompanied. The addition of other spectra LEDs made better growth and also offer a better visual experience to bring psychological benefit to the crews. The objective of this study was to investigate the influences of different spectra combinations on the wheat growth, photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant capacity and biomass yield and quality during their life cycle. Four types of different spectra combinations with the same intensity were employed: a single red light (R), a red–blue light (R + B, R : B = 4 : 1), a red–white light (R + W, R : W = 4 : 1) and a white light (W). The results showed that the wheat cultivated in the R + W light was characterized by highest harvest index and lowest lignin in inedible biomass, which was more beneficial to recycle substances in the processes of the environment regeneration. The data were comparable to those under W condition in terms of straw height, relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll concentration, antioxidant capacity, thousand kernel weight (TKW) and soluble sugar concentration. Wheat was sensitive to light quality which significantly affected those indices of growth and physiology, especially at earing and flowering stages.     

The influence of a spring habit gene, Vrn-D1, on heading time in wheat

The adaptability of wheat cultivars to environmental conditions is known to be associated with a vernalization requirement, that is, spring/winter habit. To clarify the genetic effect of the spring habit gene, Vrn‐D1, on heading time in the field, recombinant inbred lines (RILs) with or without the Vrn‐D1 gene were produced from F₂ plants of the cross between ‘Nanbukomugi’ and ‘Nishikazekomugi’, non‐carrier and carrier cultivars of this gene, respectively. Using growth chambers with a controlled temperature and photoperiod, three components of heading time, i.e. vernalization requirement, photoperiodic sensitivity and narrow‐sense earliness (earliness per se), were evaluated in each RIL. RILs with the Vrn‐D1 gene (E lines) showed greatly reduced vernalization requirements and slightly shorter narrow‐sense earliness than RILs without Vrn‐D1 (L lines), although no difference in photoperiodic sensitivity was observed between the two groups. RILs were planted at four different sites in Japan and examined for their heading time in the field. E lines headed significantly earlier than L lines at all locations, indicating that the earliness of E lines is stable in various environmental conditions. These results indicated that spring habit caused by Vrn‐D1 gene, as well as narrow‐sense earliness, was responsible for heading time in the field.     

First-division restitution in hybrids of Langdon durum disomic substitution lines with rye and Aegilops squarrosa

Durum wheat ‘Langdon’(LDN) caused a high frequency of first‐division restitution (FDR) and partial fertility in hybrids with rye, Secale cereale L., and Aegilops squarrosa L. In order to determine the genetic control of FDR, a complete set of 14 Langdon durum D‐genome disomic substitution lines (LDNDS) was crossed with ‘Gazelle’ rye and one accession (RL5286) of A. squarrosa. The microsporogenesis and fertility of the hybrids were studied. The results showed that most of the hybrids expressed a high frequency of FDR and partial fertility. However, the hybrids of 2D(2A), 4D(4A), 5D(5B) and 6D(6B) crossed with both rye and A. squarrosa, as well as 1D(1A) with A. squarrosa, had either little or no FDR and were completely sterile. These hybrids had different types of first meiotic divisions compared with LDN control hybrids. The hybrids with 2D(2A), 4D(4A) and 6D(6B) had a high frequency of random segregation of chromosomes at the first division. The hybrids with 5D(5B), as expected, showed high homoeologous pairing. The hybrid of 1D(1A) with A. squarrosa had a high frequency of equational division at first division. These results suggest that the reduced or absent FDR in such hybrids might be related to the substitution of chromosomes with an FDR gene and poor compensation ability of the D‐genome chromosomes for their homoeologous A‐ or B‐ genome chromosomes. Cytological analysis suggested that chromosome 4A in LDN most likely carries a gene for high frequency of FDR in hybrids. In addition, some monads were observed at the end of meiosis in the hybrids of 3D(3A) and 6D(6A) crossed with rye. They were formed from FDR cells that failed to divide at second division, suggesting that the LDN 3A and 6A chromosomes might carry genes for normal second division of FDR cells in the rye crosses.     

Hexaploid triticales from hybrids of 'Langdon' durum D-genome substitutions with 'Gazelle' rye

The formation of unreduced gametes in some hybrids between disomic D‐genome substitutions (DS) of durum wheat cv.‘Langdon’ and rye provides a convenient approach for the rapid introduction of D‐genome chromosomes into hexaploid triticale. Meiotic pairing at metaphase I and seed fertility in spontaneous and colchicine‐induced amphidiploids derived from F₁ hybrids between a set of ‘Langdon’ DS and ‘Gazelle’ rye were analysed. The purpose was to determine the effects of the substitution of D‐genome chromosomes for their A‐ and B‐genome homoeologues on hexaploid triticale and to select stable disomic D‐genome substitutions of hexaploid triticale. The results showed that the disomic substitutions with D‐genome slightly increased the frequency of univalents (1.0‐3.13) compared with the ‘Langdon’ control primary hexaploid triticale (0.76). Substitutions 2D(2A) and 3D(3B) were partly desynaptic. The substitutions 1D(1A), 1D(1B) and 7D(7B) exhibited high seed fertility but the others had decreased fertility. Except for 2D(2A), 5D(5A), 3D(3B) and 5D(5B), 10 of the 14 possible hexaploid triticale D‐genome disomic substitutions have been obtained. The results suggest that the poor compensation ability of some D‐genome chromosomes for their homoeologous A‐ and B‐genome chromosomes is a major factor affecting meiotic stability and fertility in the hexaploid triticale D‐genome substitutions.     

Performance of High-Technology Firms in a Peripheral Resource-Based Economy: Alberta,Canada

In the 1980s high technology moved into the forefront in regional development throughout North America and Europe as a leading strategy. The attraction of high technology more recently spilled over into the province of Alberta, a peripheral region in western Canada whose government is seeking to diversify its resource-based economy. This paper focused upon the performance of high technology firms measured by financial growth, R&D activity, employment created, and marketing. Data were drawn from a 100 percent survey of all identifiable high-tech firms which constituted the first academic inquiry into Alberta's high-technology development. Research hypotheses relating gross revenues and net profit to independent firms and subsidiaries, gross revenues to age of firm, and R&D activity to independent firms and subsidiaries were tested. The results indicate that Alberta's high technology sector is composed mainly of small independent firms in the early stages of growth. Widely divergent revenue and profit trends were found among all firms while 41 percent of the respondents received government assistance to fund R&D programs. A young high-technology base is reflected further in the small size of the labor force although three out of four firms created jobs between 1980 and 1984. Marketing was a key area of performance identified by respondent firms as companies attempted to diversify away from local markets. Overall, the systematic policies of support by the Alberta government were found to assist the growth of the high-tech industry. Whether or not this growth will be sufficient to substantially diversify this resource-based economy in a peripheral Canadian region remains to be seen. Further research, particularly in the area of job creation, is necessary to assess the impact of high-technology firms over a longer period.     

Extra‐Firm Networks and Firm Performance: A Study of South Korean Solar PV Firms and Industry Specific Government Actors

Extra‐firm actors have been acknowledged as vital to the success of green energy industries. This article deploys the firm network perspective to deliver a first of its kind analysis of specific extra‐firm actor impacts on firm performance in Korea's solar photovoltaic industry. Results are based on quantitative analyses of data from 60 firm respondents and augmented by interviews with eight government officials. Three research questions capture and compare firm and government actor perceptions pertaining to extra‐firm actor influences at the national, regional, and extra‐local scales, inclusive of place–place competition and cooperation. Results indicate that firms differ in perceptions related to the impact of 18 national level government institutes, R&D centers, associations, and academic societies on their success, and that perceptions vary by level of technology concerning a plethora of other related extra‐firm actor and support infrastructure impacts. A comparative perspective is presented based on government informant interviews.     

种植密度对油菜机械收获关键性状的影响

油菜机械化生产中, 茎秆倒伏和角果开裂是引起产量损失的主要因素。为探究密度对油菜机械化关键性状的影响, 以中双11、华油杂9号为材料, 设置4个密度(15万株 hm^-2、30万株 hm^-2、45万株 hm^-2和60万株 hm^-2), 测定产量构成、倒伏指数及抗裂角指数相关指标。结果表明, (1)不同密度下, 群体有效角果数, 每角粒数差异显著, 2个品种产量均在45万株 hm^-2时最大; (2)随密度增加, 油菜根颈粗变细, 茎秆倒伏指数增加, 增加了倒伏风险; 在低密度(15万株 hm^-2和30万株 hm^-2)下, 茎秆临近冠层部位最易倒伏, 在高密度(45万株 hm^-2和60万株 hm^-2)下, 茎秆中部及中部偏上部位倒伏指数较大, 即与低密度相比, 高密度油菜茎秆倒伏发生部位降低; (3)分枝抗裂角指数均小于主茎抗裂角指数, 且随分枝高度降低呈先增加后降低趋势。不同品种油菜主茎抗裂角指数对密度响应存在差异: 中双11随密度增加逐渐降低, 在15万株hm^-2下最大, 华油杂9号则随密度增大呈先增后降趋势, 在30万株 hm^-2下最大。角果发育初期至成熟期含水量下降速率与抗裂角指数极显著负相关, 且相关系数最大, 表明该指标是密度影响抗裂角指数的最关键因素。     

Innovation Prone and Innovation Averse Societies: Economic Performance in Europe

Although it is commonly accepted that investing in technology and research and development (R&D) is a basic catalyst for the genesis of economic activity, there is less consensus on the spatial significance and returns of the R&D effort for regional and local economies. It is often argued that innovation resulting from allocating local resources to R&D is likely to spill over to other areas, especially in the framework of open national economies. Hence, the incentive to free-ride increases at the subnational level. This paper shows, however, that in the Western European regional context, regions with higher resources devoted to R&D tend to grow at a greater pace than the remaining spaces. Nevertheless, the passage from R&D to innovation and growth is not achieved in a similar way across Europe. Local social conditions play an important role in the formation of what can be defined as ‘innovation prone’ and ‘innovation averse’ societies. Innovation prone regions are those featured by a weak social filter, which facilitates the transformation of innovation into growth. Conversely, regions burdened by rigid labor markets, shortage of skills, outward migration of able individuals, and an aging of the workforce are less prone to assimilate innovation and to transform it into economic activity. They make up the innovation averse societies in Europe.     

Effect of VRN‐1 and PPD‐D1 genes on heading time in European bread wheat cultivars

The variation of the vernalization (VRN‐1) and photoperiod (PPD‐1) genes offers opportunities to adjust heading time and to maximize yield in crop species. The effect of these genes on heading time was studied based on a set of 245 predominantly spring cultivars of bread wheat from the main eco‐geographical regions of Europe. The genotypes were screened using previously published diagnostic molecular markers for detecting the dominant or recessive alleles of the major VRN‐1 loci such as: VRN‐A1, VRN‐B1, VRN‐D1 as well as PPD‐D1. We found that 91% of spring wheat cultivars contain the photoperiod sensitive PPD‐D1b allele. Photoperiod insensitive PPD‐D1a allele has been found mainly in southern region of Europe. For this region the monogenic control of vernalization by VRN‐B1 or VRN‐D1 dominant alleles is common, whereas in the remaining part of Europe, the combination of photoperiod sensitive PPD‐D1b allele with dominant VRN‐A1, VRN‐B1 and recessive vrn‐D1 alleles represents the most frequent genotype. Also, we revealed a significantly later (5–8 days) heading of the monogenically dominant genotypes at VRN‐B1 as compared to the digenic VRN‐A1 VRN‐B1 genotypes.     

The effect of VRN1 genes on important agronomic traits in high‐yielding Canadian soft white spring wheat

For reproductive success, flowering time must synchronize with favourable environmental conditions. Vernalization genes play a major role in accelerating or delaying the time to flowering. We studied how different vernalization (VRN1) gene combinations alter days to flowering and maturity and consequently the effect on grain yield and other agronomic traits. The study focussed on the effect of the VRN1 gene series (Vrn‐A1, Vrn‐B1 and Vrn‐D1) and their combinations. The Vrn gene group Vrn‐A1a, Vrn‐B1, vrn‐D1 was the earliest to flower and mature, while Vrn‐A1b, Vrn‐B1, vrn‐D1 was the latest to flower. Spring wheat lines with vrn‐A1, Vrn‐B1, Vrn‐D1 were the highest yielding and matured at a similar time as those having vernalization genes Vrn‐A1a, Vrn‐B1 and Vrn‐D1. The findings of this study suggest that the presence of Vrn‐D1 has a direct or indirect role in producing higher grain yield. We therefore suggest the introduction of Vrn‐D1 allele into higher‐yielding classes within Canadian spring wheat germplasm.