3 minutes read

INGINEUS addresses the impact of globalisation and the rapid growth of selected emerging economies in the world on the competitiveness and strategies of European Union firms, industries and regions. It focuses particularly on the evolution of global production networks (GPNs) into global innovation networks (GINs) and on its impact on knowledge-intensive activities in the European Union…

INGINEUS addresses the impact of globalisation and the rapid growth of selected emerging economies in the world on the competitiveness and strategies of European Union firms, industries and regions. It focuses particularly on the evolution of global production networks (GPNs) into global innovation networks (GINs) and on its impact on knowledge-intensive activities in the European Union.

Geared to elaborate policy options based on the analyses undertaken, it informs strategic thinking about how best to steer this process in a globally beneficial way. Its ultimate objective is in fact to derive policy recommendations that allow the EU to benefit from the positive features of this process while mitigating its adverse consequences.

INGINEUS is coordinated by FEEM and brings together researchers from EU countries (Italy, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Sweden, Norway and United Kingdom) and from some of the most important emerging economies in the world (Brazil, China, India, and South Africa).

A main result of the INGINEUS project has been the design and administration of a survey aimed at comparing industries (ICT, agro-food and automotive) across different regions. The survey has been carried out in 10 countries and partners have carried out the case study analysis. A completed report on the role of national innovation systems (NIS) on GINs reveals two different types of GINs, one centring on multinationals which coordinate R&D activities, production and marketing from one central location, and the other on smaller enterprises and research groups that interact in GINs. The NIS becomes important in that it sets the rules of the game for each node within the innovation network, and for the actors entering into a relationship. 

The policy-relevant results of the project are published in the INGINEUS Policy Briefs:

  • Policy Brief no.1: "Global innovation networks: where is Europe?" published in September 2009
  • Policy Brief no.2: "European firms’ reasons for taking part in GINs", published in June 2010
  • Policy Brief no.3: "Challenges and barriers of European firms in global innovation networks", published in June 2011
  • Policy Brief no.4: "Global Innovation Networks: evidence & policy challenges",  published in December 2011

The Policy Briefs are available on the project web site and also on the FP7 EC web site dedicated to research on Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities.

FEEM contributed specifically to WP (understanding strategies of R&D offshoring by Northern and Southern firms); WP7 (the role of intellectual property rights in the anchorage of Global Innovation Networks); WP8 (the dynamic effects of GINs creation); and WP10 (the dynamics of GINs, their challenges and opportunities for innovation policy).

The INGINEUS Final Conference "Globalisation of Innovation" was held at the European Commission in Brussels on 9th December 2011.