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In my book
"A knowledge-based Norway"
(2012), l argue that there are similar issues related
to the Knowfedge Commons. The Knowledge Commons is the extended knowfedge and
competence base that every industry and nation depend on for its innovation and value
creation. In our research on knowfedge based industries in Norway, we identified three
industries with relatively strong knowfedge commons, while other industries had rather weak
knowledge commons. The three stronge.st industries from a knowledge commons
perspective were the offshore, maritime and seafood industries. We refer to these industries
at the
Ocean Industries
Among the weaker Norwegian industries from a knowfedge
commons perspective were tourism, retailing and building industries. These industries are
primarily home market industries, while the strong knowfedge industries successfully
compete internationally. Some of the eme-ging knowfedge intensive industries such as
biotech and dean tech have rather imbalanced knowledge commons, streng in
R&D
and
weak in commercialization and value creation.
In order to advance
the concept of knowredge commons
we have operationalized the
knowledge commons into six dimensions of industrial attractiveness:
(1)
Cluster
attractiveness,
(2)
Educational attractiveness,
(3)
Talent attractiveness,
(4) R&D
and
innovation attractiveness,
(5)
Ownership attractiveness and
(6)
Environmental attractiveness.
We illustrate these attractiveness dimensioos by the
Emerald Model,
adding a seventh
dimension of Knowledge dynamics that measures how the industry captures the knowledge
externalities present within the industry. Knowledge linkages are critical for industrial
development. Lite science in Boston and Information technology in Silicon Valley are
examples of streng knowledge commons that also have high knowfedge dynamics. The
result is high levels of entrepreneurship, innovation and c;ommercia!ization.
Environmental
Attractiveness
Ownership
Attractiveness
/
R&Dand lnnovation
Attractiveness
Figure: The Emerald Mode/
CIuster
Attractiveness
Talent
Attractiveness
Educational
Attractiveness
Cluster attractiveness measures the structure and critical mass of the industry broadly
defined. lndustry definitions should be broader than what is traditionally used in statistical
industry classifications, including the common field of knowfedge and customers.
An
important element is whether the industry has a complete value chain or value network with
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