Breakthrough innovations in the U.S. biotechnology industry: the effects of technological space and geographic origin

How are breakthrough innovations created? Our study suggests that the type of external knowledge sourced determines the likelihood of creation of breakthrough innovation. We characterize the external knowledge utilized on two dimensions: its technological space and geographic origin. We draw on the concepts of local search and national innovation systems to identify critical knowledge inputs. We hypothesize that external knowledge characterized by technological distance or proximity and the national or international context can have a differential impact on breakthrough innovation. This is due to the contradictory implications of its value created by distance and to absorptive capacity limitations in effectively utilizing knowledge from a different context. To test our hypotheses we use patent data from the U.S. biotechnology industry. Our findings suggest that technologically distant knowledge of national origin has a curvilinear effect and technologically proximate knowledge of international origin has a positive effect on breakthrough innovation. However, simultaneous exploration along technologically and geographic dimensions is not useful to generating breakthrough innovation; technologically distant knowledge of international origin does not have a significant impact. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Innovations in meta-analysis and social impact analysis relevant for tech mining

In the social sciences, non-utilization of knowledge is a major problem. Many publications stored in libraries or available on the Internet should be used more than they are now. Conventional approaches like providing abstracts and lists of keywords have proven to be insufficient. For more than thirty years already, meta-analysis is available for the accumulation and dissemination of scientific knowledge. In the social sciences, meta-analysis has been used on a limited scale only, mainly because there still remains a gap between the knowledge available and its application in policymaking. Recently, value transfer has been introduced as an additional method to bridge the gap between available knowledge and the demands for knowledge in new problem areas. Not only in the social sciences but also in the information sciences non-utilization of information is a major problem. It is the mission of tech mining to contribute to a mitigation of this non-utilization. In this article, we will show how tech mining could profit from innovations in meta-analysis and social impact assessment. Special attention will be paid to research on technology generations, research on social change in cohesive social systems showing solidarity at work, and tech mining in support of the Lisbon Strategy of the European Commission.     

Growth in West German demand continues unabated

This report analyses time series adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations. Seasonal adjustment by the Berlin method (B V3). With this method, the addition of a new figure can cause changes in seasonally adjusted figures earlier in the time series even if the original, unadjusted figures have remained unchanged.     

I. Allgemeine wirstchaftslehre

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Cervical injuries in Sweden,a national survey of patient data from 1987 to 1999

Neck injuries are one of the most important injuries as they have the potential to influence the spinal cord. Data from most parts of the world are not sufficient to define a comprehensive view of mortality, morbidity, disability and handicap due to neck injuries. In Sweden, there are no data on the incidence of neck injuries. The aim of this study is to define the national incidence and causes of neck injuries in Sweden. An incidence study was undertaken with data from the injury surveillance program at the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. The investigation includes cervical vertebral fractures reported between 1987 and 1999, and cervical soft tissue injuries over a period of three years, from 1997 to 1999. Data between 1987 and 1996 were reported in ICD 9, while data from 1997 to 1999 were reported in ICD 10. During the study period, 14,310 non-fatal and 782 fatal cervical injuries occurred. A decreasing incidence for cervical fractures can be seen for the Swedish population, except for the elderly that have a slight increase in incidence. The incidence for cervical soft tissue injuries is almost constant. Cervical fractures demand longer periods of hospitalization than the soft tissue injuries. Transportation-related cervical fractures have dropped since 1991, while soft tissue injuries increased slowly between 1997 and 1999. Fall accidents are now the largest external cause of cervical fractures, and the population above 65 years accounts for almost 50% of the fall accidents. The male population has a higher incidence of cervical fractures, disregarding age. It is concluded that safety programs for transportation-related injuries in Sweden have been successful, while fall accidents are still substantial. Much more can be done to prevent neck injuries; especially to reduce the number of transportation-related cervical soft tissue injuries and fall injuries in the elderly population.