Maria Tsouri

This article explores the effects of knowledge network participation on firms` international market access. We use a unique dataset comprising Norwegian firm data on RD&D (research, development and demonstration) and market participation in offshore wind. The empirical results show that participating in pilot and demonstration projects positively affects firms’ presence in international markets, while we do not observe the same positive effect for R&D projects. However, the econometric evidence shows that increasing extents of international collaborators, particularly from countries with home markets, contributes to a positive effect of R&D project participation on market access, while negative effects are observed for domestic collaborators. The results suggest that transnational knowledge linkages constitute an important mechanism for international market access, especially for countries with weak or absent domestic markets. We suggest that RD&D policy design could benefit from ensuring international collaboration, particularly with partners in countries with domestic markets, and support for demonstration activities.

Technologies involved in sustainability transitions depend on well-functioning innovation systems in order to mature and diffuse. A key feature of technological evolution and innovation systems is the development of knowledge. Hekkert et al (2007) distinguish between knowledge development and knowledge diffusion as two central processes in Technological Innovation Systems (TIS). R&D projects are a common indicator of knowledge development, and the key function of networks is the sharing of knowledge (Binz et al, 2014). As there are still gaps in the analysis of national knowledge networks of new technological fields, the aim of this paper is twofold. The first objective is to understand the evolution of the knowledge network of evolving TISs. The second objective is to understand the role of the key influential actors into the national TISs. Empirically we focus on photovoltaic (PV) technology, which has emerged as a key Renewable Energy Technology, with high diffusion rates, large cost reduction, continuous technological improvements and variety in technological concepts. For studying the knowledge networks in EU-wide networks, we investigate relationships in EU funded collaborative projects from 1998 to 2017, with a particular interest on the Norwegian PV TIS. Although the Norwegian PV knowledge network appears dominated by international actors and relationships, we observed that the role of Norwegian key agents is substantial for the network resilience through time. Thus, this work contributes to the study of the Norwegian PV knowledge network evolution for the past twenty years, around its influential actors, stressing out their importance for the TIS development.