BMBF-Project: Knowledge Transfer in Turkish-German Innovation Networks in the Context of European Integration

Project Duration:

1.6.2011 - 31.05.2014

Project Partner:

Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

Project Website:

Find the project´s german website here.

Project Summary:

Rapidly changing conditions in the world economy forces firms to innovate in order to maintain their competitive advantage. The innovative performance of a firm is linked to the Research and Development (R&D) activities in order to improve product qualities and production efficiency as well as their competences. However, no single firm can keep pace with the speed of technological development in isolation. In addition, external sources and boundary-spanning networks are crucial for the development of new products and processes. Innovation networks are primary environments where actors exchange knowledge and experience in an easier and less costly way. Besides their impact on learning and diffusion, innovation networks play also an important role in the development and integration of economies. Saxenian (2006) discusses the old core/periphery model of economic development with a new approach in terms of the role of individuals which transfer competences from the core to the periphery regions which she labeled “commuting entrepreneurs”. The knowledge transfer takes place in innovation networks which are spawned between the core and the periphery by these individuals and their economic engagement in both regions. Without doubt, the history of Turkish-German-Migration offers a broad scope to benefit from knowledge migration by the help of innovation networks.

So far, to our knowledge, no study exists which scrutinizes innovation networks encompassing Turkish and German actors and institutions. The project merges the literature on innovation networks and on knowledge migration to derive policy conclusions aiming at improving and facilitating mutual learning and knowledge exchange between Turkey and Germany. The proposed research project aims to investigate the exchange of people (migration) and knowledge between Turkey and Germany by analyzing innovation networks of the Turkish and German firms and/or researchers in the fashion/design industry, machine industry, biotechnology and academics. The historical and long lasting intensive Turkish-German relationships bear a large potential for knowledge and innovation driven dynamics which can contribute strongly to the economic welfare in both countries. 

In particular the objectives of the project are:

1. To measure and visualize innovation networks between Turkish and German agents (firms, academia, government).

2. To reveal structural and compositional features of social integration, learning patterns and knowledge transfer between Turkish and German firms/organizations.

3.To explore the differences in (sectoral) innovation networks depending on different knowledge bases.

4.To identify the crucial actors (key players) in the networks and to describe the tasks taken over by them in the networks.

5. To analyze the role of commuting entrepreneurs (i.e. actors which move fore- and backwards between the core and the periphery) for the establishment and performance of Turkish German innovation networks.

6.To analyze the ego-networks of these crucial actors. How have these agents developed, established and used social networks to promote knowledge flows, innovation and business competitiveness?

7.To understand the formation of successful innovation networks through individual and collective action.

8.To discover factors which hinder and support the emergence of innovation networks.

9.To explore the possibilities for catching-up of periphery regions offered by innovation networks.

10.To derive policy conclusions for the design of network policies.

Thereby, we aim to contribute to the economic and social integration and technology transfer between Turkey and Germany. The project will provide practical and theoretical insights on (i) how the networks between both sides are formed; (ii) which bottlenecks are to be dissolved and (iii) which strengths and best practices can be fostered. Once we know the structural and dynamic features of the networks we are able to avoid negative features, overcome rigidities and enhance knowledge flows.

Both countries gain from technological integration and mutual understanding. An improved technological integration is an important step towards more social integration between Turkey and Germany and fosters the EU integration process. Both sides therefore profit from a better understanding of innovation networks.