Cross-border regional innovation ecosystems: the role of non-profit organizations in cross-border cooperation at the US-
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Cross-border regional innovation ecosystems: the role of non-profit organizations in cross-border cooperation at the US-Mexico border Francesco Cappellano
. Teemu Makkonen
Springer Nature B.V. 2019
Abstract In light of the shortcomings concerning cross-border regional innovation systems (CBRIS), this analysis seeks to propose a new cross-border regional innovation ecosystem (CBRIE) concept better equipped to address the contemporary innovation policy development and practical regional policy challenges on the ground. The existing literature on CBRIS has focused on EU regions and awarded only a marginal role to non-profit organizations (NPO) as potential facilitators of cross-border cooperation (CBC). To address this knowledge gap, the role of NPOs in CBC is analyzed within the bi-national San Diego–Tijuana region at the US-Mexico border. The research follows a mixed approach based on semistructured interviews and social network analysis in order to: (i) gauge how organizations are interrelated and (ii) identify the key actors within the CBRIE. The results show that the CBRIE concept serves as an effective tool for identifying the organizations involved in cross-border networks and their roles in CBC at the US-Mexico border. Although the US-
F. Cappellano (&) Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Via Salita Melissari, 24, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy e-mail: [email protected] T. Makkonen Karelian Institute, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland e-mail: [email protected]
Mexico border presents stark differences compared to EU border regions, the CBRIE concept can offer a starting point for analyzing and facilitating CBC in Europe. Keywords Cross-border region Innovation Nonprofit organization Social network analysis Regional innovation policy
Introduction The academic literature acknowledges that successfully integrated cross-border regional innovation systems (CBRIS) can facilitate local economic development despite the numerous barriers hindering cross-border interaction and CBRIS orchestration. With this regard, the conceptualization of CBRIS, developed by Lundquist and Trippl (2013), represents a ground-breaking milestone in the body of knowledge on cross-border innovation cooperation.1 Nevertheless, taking into consideration the recent emphasis given to smart specialization within the EU, the
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We define innovation in its dictionary form as a new idea manifested in form of a device or a method and (deriving from the standards OECD definition) cross-border innovation cooperation as active participation in joint innovation projects with other organizations of which at least one is from a neighbouring country.
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discussion on innovation policies at cross-border regions would benefit from a more nuanced conceptual framework. Moreover, the literature on CBRIS has mainly focused on analyzing public sector-led macro-level integration process
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