Casas, Rosalba, Rebecca de Gortari and Ma. Josefa Santos (2000).This article is discussing on how Mexico build an environment or space in order for innovation in taking place in the country. Again, triple Helix, where government, private sector and universities have their own role in developing a knowledge space in the Mexico. Government responsible in providing funds, technological facilities and public research centers (PRCs) in the regions, universities will be providing scientific and technological knowledge to the environment; hence private sector will be able to utilize all those facilities and knowledge in research activities. Two kind of system had been developed by Mexico’s government in building of knowledge spaces. It had been summarizing in below table.
| | Government | |
| SEP-CONACYT (Ministry of Public Education- National Science and Technology Council) | CINVESTAV (centre for research and advance studies) | |
| Establish | 1970 | 1963 |
| Role | Divided into three categories, science centers, technological centers and social science centers. | Concentrating in providing training to researchers to meet the demand of the market as well as improving standard of living of the country. |
| Gov. Allocation | 18.8% percent federal expenditure on S&T | 7 % percent of federal expenditure on S&T |
One of the most successful region that had been created as a knowledge space is Bajio, 2 of the states in this region, Queretaro and Guanajuato where R&D activities are highly concentrated. Authors stressed that PRC is the most important in creating knowledge space; Lots of example had been given, however, all those example are referring to the main point on the role of PRC in creating regional knowledge space.
1. Public research center collaborate with universities, universities provided courses to train human capital that are needed by research centers and to meet the demand of job market. With clustering of all PRC in one region, they collaborate among themselves and share the expertise or technology in solving problem and create new product. They also practice sub contract where they could use laboratories or tools that they don’t acquired. Hence, Combination and accumulation of knowledge increase innovation capabilities.
2. Practicing transfer of technology from foreign firms to local firms. Financial institution providing fund to acquire new technologies.
3. Private firms approach PRC in order for solving technological and organizational problems. Interaction between PRC and firms create a continuous learning process for both parties to support the knowledge network.
4. Most of the research activities in Mexico are conducted within Public University and PRCs.
5. In order to build an effective triple helix interaction model, the lateral networks between PRC and PRC, PRC with international counterparts, PRC with local or foreign firms, and trilateral networks between all the players is important. They have to support each other, collaborating research together, involve in transferring technology and sufficient human capital in building the knowledge space.
Casas, Rosalba, Rebecca de Gortari and Ma. Josefa Santos (2000) “The Building of Knowledge Spaces in Mexico: a regional approach to networking.” Research Policy 29 225-241.
7 comments:
I think knowledge networking is not only a direct way to solve problems and create new products but indirectly create new jobs.
beside the triple helix and other example given in this article,what other major factor that you think can make the "network of knowledge" work?
Cultural in the firm, is one of the factor that might influence the network, firm should encourage the workers to share their knowledge and incentive should be provided. Continuous learning should be emphasize, what is the use of state of the art technology had been provided but no one is using it?
compared mexico economy to malaysia economy,
GDP real growth rate in mexico: 3.2%(2007) ; malaysia: 6.3%(2007)
GDP per capita in mexico: $12,400 (2007 est.) ; malaysia: $14,500 (2007 est.)
we can see from the figures, malaysia is higher in both GDP real growth rate and GDP per capita, but what interest me is that GDP-composition by sector particularly in services in mexico is very high compared to malaysia (mexico - services: 69.5% (2007 est.) malaysia - services: 44.8% (2007 est.) ).
we can conclude that mexico is paying much attention in developing its knowledge economy, because servicing is part of k.e.
That is what malaysia should be doing rite now.
Just an intersting fact to share :
mexico current account balance: -$5.525 billion (2007 est.) (yes, its a negative.)
malaysia current account
balance: $28.93 billion (2007 est.)
source: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
mexico : https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html#Econ
malaysia: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html#Econ
Mexico have deficit current account is due to hit of crisis during year 1992, where they suffer shifts in external capital flows, with the debt crisis due devaluation of their currency.
from your opinion,how can knowledge network can be sustained?
to align and integrate its knowledge management strategy and transfer initiatives with its organization goals and strategic approach.
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