The crucial actors of a global knowledge-based economy are multinational enterprises (MNEs). MNEs depend on the embeddedness in an institutional framework; their competitive advantage depends on the cross-border utilisation of regional and national capabilities. The innovativeness of a company is therefore based also on regional innovation systems. Multinational Enterprises and Innovation contributes to a better understanding of the interconnectedness between organisational and regional learning. On the basis of case studies in Germany and France, this volume investigates how MNEs cope with technical, economic and institutional uncertainties by drawing upon the complementary strengths of organisational and regional networks in national and European contexts. The book links two theoretical debates which are currently still largely disconnected -- the debate on learning processes in MNEs and the debate on the regional bases of innovativeness and competitiveness -- answering the question of how the internationalisation of R&D is reconciled with regional competences.

The crucial actors of a global knowledge-based economy are multinational enterprises (MNE). At the same time, the competences in the country and even in the region where the headquarters are located still play a crucial role for the localisation of R&D. MNEs depend on the embeddedness in an institutional framework, since their competitive advantage in the world-wide competition depends crucially on the cross-border utilisation of regional and national capabilities. Complementary to transnational networks, the innovativeness of a company is therefore based also on regional innovation systems. Multinational Enterprises and Innovation contributes to a better understanding of the interconnectedness between organisational and regional learning. On the basis of case studies in Germany and France, we investigate how MNEs cope with technical, economic and institutional uncertainties by drawing upon the complementary strengths of organisational and regional networks in national and European contexts. Thus, the book links two theoretical debates which are currently still largely unconnected -- the debate on learning processes in MNEs and the debate on the regional bases of innovativeness and competitiveness. In this way, we try to answer the question how the observed internationalisation of R&D is reconciled with the crucial role of domestic locations and regional competences.

Innovation networks are a major source for acquiring new information and knowledge and thus for supporting innovation processes. Despite the many theoretical and empirical contributions to the explanation of networks, many questions still remain open. For example: How can networks, if they do not emerge by their own, be initiated? How can fragmentation in innovation systems be overcome? And how can networking experience from market economies be transferred to the emerging economies of Central and Eastern Europe? By presenting a selection of papers which address innovation networking from theoretical and political viewpoints, the book aims at giving answers to these questions.

Technology-based firms contribute to dynamic competition, ensure product variety, close market gaps and promote job creation. Their development is impeded by a difficult access to capital, high R&D costs and management deficits. The book analyses their chances and risks in the innovation process. Topics deal with the management of technology-based firms, different aspects on their financing, the spectrum of public promotion programmes and the venture capital market in Germany. Finally, the book centres on regional technology and economic promotion and the creation of regional networks for technology-based firms. The reader documents research of Fraunhofer-ISI on technology-based firms and their environment and aims at a better understanding of specific chances and risks in the development process of such firms.

Das Buch zeigt, wie sich die Biotechnologie auf regionaler Ebene entwickelt, mit welchen Problemfeldern Unternehmen und Forschungseinrichtungen konfrontiert sind, wie die Akteure aus Forschung, Wirtschaft und Politik sowie dem Umfeld der Biotechnologie zusammenwirken und welche Perspektiven sich fA1/4r die Biotechnologie auch auf regionaler Ebene erAffnen. Von einer empirischen Analyse fA1/4r das Land Baden-WA1/4rttemberg ausgehend, werden technologiepolitische Optionen abgeleitet und fArderpolitische Instrumente und MaAnahmen diskutiert.

Neue und kleine Technologieunternehmen forcieren den Wettbewerb, sichern die Produktvielfalt, schliessen Marktlucken und schaffen Arbeitsplatze. Der schwierige Zugang zu Kapital, hohe FuE-Kosten und Managementdefizite hemmen ihre Entwicklung. Der Band analysiert aus verschiedenen Blickwinkeln ihre Chancen und Risiken im Innovationsprozess. Der erste Schwerpunkt bezieht sich auf das Management solcher Unternehmen. Danach wird das Angebot an oeffentlicher Foerderung und Beteiligungskapital aufgezeigt. Es folgen Analysen zur regionalen Technologie- und Wirtschaftsfoerderung. Der Reader fasst die empirischen Arbeiten des ISI uber Technologieunternehmen und ihr Umfeld zusammen, um zu einem besseren Verstandnis dieses fur die Zukunftssicherung Deutschlands wichtigen Themas beizutragen.