Fundamentals of Argumentation Theory Curs 6 (the Soundness of Argumentation)
Structure of argumentation
description
Transcript of Structure of argumentation
Halle Institute for Economic Research
Peter Franz
The Adaptation of New Technologies by Regional Innovation Systems: The Example of Universities and
Photovoltaics
Paper for the DIME WP 2.3 Workshop
“Local and sectoral systems of innovations – Policy measures and possibilities”
in Marburg, Germany November 19-21, 2008
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Structure of argumentation
• RIS as a research design oriented to actors and their relations
• Universities and research institutes as important actors in RIS
• Photovoltaics – a new technology?
• Empirical results
• Conclusions and new questions
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The RIS perspective
• RIS in research: Task of delimitating a set of interrelated actors
• RIS do not only have actors, but also content = alignment to (a) certain technology(ies)
• Are RIS subject to life-cycles? Can RIS be exposed to lock-ins?
• What features of a RIS define its capabilty to re-align to a new technology?
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Universities as actors in RIS
• Inclusion of universities in RIS a recent phenomenon
• Comes together with a new „regional responsibility“ attributed to universities
• Knowledge transfer as official task: „Die Hochschulen … fördern die Verbreitung und Nutzen ihrer Forschungsergebnisse im gesellschaftlichen Leben und in der beruflichen Praxis …. Hierzu können Transferstellen eingerichtet werden “ (§ 3, University Law of Saxony-Anhalt 2005)
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Universities as actors in RIS
Functions of universities:a) Antenna function: Screening and
absorbing knowledge external to the region
b) Producing new human capital (teaching)
c) Producing new knowledge (research) Positive feedback loop between (b) and (c)
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Photovoltaics as a new technology I
• Basics: Discovery of the photoelectric effect by Becquerel 1839; explanation of this phenomenon by Einstein 1905
• Pioneering phase 1 (mid-80s): Basic research and first applications by large enterprises (AEG, Siemens, MBB)
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Photovoltaics as a new technology II
• Pioneering phase 2 (up to mid-90s): Political support (1000-Dächer-Programm); founding of research institutes specialized to photovoltaics
• Take-off (up to now): Intensified political support (100.000-Dächer-Programm; EEG); rapid growth of all kind of firms at the different steps of the value chain
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Value chain in the solar industry
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Photovoltaics as a new technology III
• 21% of the workforce in the solar industry have a university degree and 3% a doctor‘s title
High demand for university graduates• Relatively standardized products since the
pioneering phase 2• Tenfold increase of sales between 2003 and
2007 up to 5.5 billions € (Biotechnology: 31% increase 2005-07 up to 2.1 billions €)
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Photovoltaics as a new technology IV
Favourable environmental growth factors:• High societal acceptance of the technologyCivic action groups supporting the
application of the technology
• Large number of skilled handicraft firms
• Differentiated industry producing electric equipment
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Photovoltaics as a new technology IV
Problems• Still low efficiency of solar cells:
In 2007 solar electric power contributed to 0.6% of the electric power totally consumed in Germany
• Problems of feeding solar power into the power supply network
Intensive research activities requiredPotential for universities to cooperate
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Photovoltaics as a new technology V
Potentials
• Increased chance for growth of solar firms in regions where universities react to their needs (specific human capital; opportunities for research cooperations)
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Empirical results
Data sources:
a)Photon-Database comprising university courses of studies referring to photovoltaics (Photon 6/2008, 170-181)
b)Database of the Federal Government comprising research grants of three ministries (http://foerderportal.bund.de) Selected period: 1992-2008
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Empirical results I
Teaching• In Germany a relatively wide dispersion of 171
courses of studies with a focus on photovoltaics at 89 universities
• Universities of applied sciences predominate (65 out of 89)
• 86% of the courses at faculties of engineering• 7.6% at faculties of natural science• 5.3% at faculties of economics
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German universities with courses and research in photovoltaics
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Empirical results II
Research (at universities)• 43% of the universities offering courses of
studies in photovoltaics also active in (externally funded) research
• Largest numbers and highest amounts of research grants for universities in the South (Stuttgart, Darmstadt, Konstanz, Munich)
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German universities with courses and research in photovoltaics and research institutes with research in photovoltaics
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Empirical results III
Research (at non-university research institutes)
• Strong position of research institutes in Freiburg and Stuttgart, but East German research institutes catching up (highest amounts in Berlin and Freiberg)
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Conclusions
• Universities offering courses in photovoltaics are geographically widespread
• Nearly 50% of the universities offering degrees in photovoltaics are active in research
• Especially East German universities dispose of unrealized opportunities to cooperate with solar firms
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New / Old questions
• Research institutes not attached to universities are important players in the regional?-national? innovation system
• Up to now there are few regions uniting a bundle of teaching, research and production
• Still few industry locations combining multiple steps of the value chain
• Which research focus is more adequate: RIS or photovoltaics as a technical system?
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Thanks for listening!