Working papers

Working papers are available at:
http://ssrn.com/author=2189719

Working papers


Les différentes approches entrepreneuriales dans les espaces ouverts d’innovation

Capdevila, Ignasi

Abstract:
Creativity has a strong social component. The capture of distributed collective creativity plays an important role in the innovative process of organizations. In recent years, many open innovation spaces were created under different names: fab labs, hackerspaces, makerspaces, coworking spaces, living labs,… All these spaces are based on openness, collaboration and knowledge sharing. However, they differ in some aspects at their entrepreneurial approach. This article proposes a classification of different spaces according to 1) their focus on the exploration of new ideas or exploitation of innovations with commercial purposes, and 2) the mode of governance of the space whether it is “top-down” or “bottom up”. The article examines the implications about the complementarity of different spaces and about the development of the creative capability of individuals and organizations that use the spaces.

Knowledge Dynamics in Localized Communities: Coworking Spaces as Microclusters

Capdevila, Ignasi

Abstract:
The literature on knowledge creation in economic geography has often focused on the territorial or organizational level, without considering the multi-scalar aspect of innovation and knowledge dynamic. This article contributes to fill this gap by analyzing the knowledge dynamics that take place in localized emerging communities in Coworking Spaces (CWS) as well as their impact at the local and global levels. CWS are theorized as microclusters as they present similar knowledge dynamics as the ones identified in industrial clusters but at a lower scale. As an illustration, the article presents the case of the CWS in Barcelona. The implications for policy makers are analyzed in view of the potential contributions of these microclusters to the local dynamics of knowledge creation and transfer.

Keywords: coworking, coworking spaces, clusters, microclusters, knowledge dynamics


 

Knowing Communities and the Innovative Capacity of Cities

Capdevila, Ignasi

Abstract:
The buzz-and-pipeline model (Maskell et al. 2006; Bathelt et al. 2004) claims that clusters of economic activity need both a rich “local buzz” and the creation of “global pipelines” with external actors to increase their innovative capacity. While co-location is sufficient to profit from the “buzz”, “pipelines” require a high investment in their construction and nurturing. This paper complements this model by emphasizing the role that actors outside firms, especially communities, play in facilitating both the local and the global knowledge dynamics in cities. The knowledge transfer between distant similar communities is facilitated by the cognitive proximity that bonds members of knowing communities and that appears more determinant than geographic proximity. This community-based model is empirically illustrated by a three-case study on different knowing communities in Barcelona (fabbers, coworkers and makers). The paper concludes that by fostering the development and nurturing of such communities, policy makers might contribute to increase the innovative capacity of urban agglomerations.

Keywords: global pipelines, local buzz, coworking, maker, fab lab, knowing communities


Typologies of Localized Spaces of Collaborative Innovation

Capdevila, Ignasi

Abstract:
Hacker spaces, maker spaces, Living Labs, Fab Labs or co-working spaces are common denominations of localized spaces of collaborative innovation (LSCI) where knowledge communities meet to collectively innovate. These spaces can represent a key element in the innovation ecosystem of cities, bridging between individual’s creativity and the firms’ innovation. However, the increasing importance of this phenomenon has been overlooked by researchers on innovation both in organizations and in territories. The research here presented is a first attempt to study the LSCI phenomenon globally, by proposing a typology that classifies 120 spaces depending on the leaders (users or organizations) and the main driver (social or economic) of the projects developed in the LSCI. The contribution of this paper is to propose a practical methodology that could be applicable to the classification of other existing LSCI. Furthermore, the proposed typology could be used by policy makers to reinforce the interactions between the actors of the local innovation ecology.

Keywords: Hacker spaces, maker spaces, Living Labs, Fab Labs, coworking spaces, typology, spaces, collaborative innovation


 Coworking Spaces and the Localized Dynamics of Innovation. The Case of Barcelona.

Capdevila, Ignasi

Abstract:
The innovative capacity of cities does not exclusively depend on the innovation processes managed by local firms. This paper considers a multi-level perspective to analyze the crucial role of individuals and communities outside firms in the dynamics of innovation in cities. Through a qualitative study of the communities emerging in coworking spaces in Barcelona, we disentangle the different dynamics of innovation involving community insiders and local actors (firms, citizens and governmental bodies). We argue that coworking spaces act as intermediaries between creative individuals (“the underground”) and innovative firms (“the upperground”), contributing to the interaction between colocated actors through the articulation of places, spaces, projects and events. The results lead to suggestions for policies to contribute to the emergence and development of innovation in cities by fostering innovative processes outside firms.

Keywords: dynamics of innovation; innovation in cities; coworking spaces, middleground; innovation communities


 Different Inter-Organizational Collaboration Approaches in Coworking Spaces in Barcelona

Capdevila, Ignasi

Abstract:
Inter-organizational collaboration plays a crucial role in the innovative capacity and competitiveness of firms. This article discusses the collaboration practices in localized spaces of collaboration through a study of different coworking spaces in Barcelona, following an inductive and qualitative approach. Three types of collaboration approaches are identified: 1) cost-related collaboration, where agents are motivated in reducing their operational costs and the transaction costs related to collaboration; 2) resource-based collaboration, where agents collaborate to learn or complement their resources by integrating external resources and sources of knowledge; and 3) relational collaboration, where actors engage in intense synergistic collaborative practices. The results show that each coworking space tends to focus on one kind of collaboration type that is influenced in different ways by the coworking space managers. The article contributes to the research on inter-organizational collaboration by explaining how the physical environment and the action of the space and community managers can facilitate the implementation of different collaborative practices among colocated economic agents.

Keywords: inter-organizational collaboration, coworking spaces, cost-related collaboration, resource-based collaboration, relational collaboration


 How Can Living Labs Enhance the Participants’ Motivation in Different Types of Innovation Activities?

Capdevila, Ignasi

Abstract:
The contribution of this article consists on building on the types of innovation mechanisms in Living Lab networks (Leminen, Westerlund, & Nyström, 2012; Leminen, 2013) by relating each type to a different theoretical innovation logic (methods for creativity; social innovation; open innovation; user innovation). Each logic is related to a different type of localized space of collective innovation (Fab Labs, co-creation spaces, coworking spaces and hackerspaces) and participants’ motivation to collaborate. The literature review on the main characteristics of each logic and the corresponding motivations of participants provide some guidelines for Living Lab practitioners about how to motivate participants in the different modes of “Living Labbing”.

Keywords: motivation to collaborate; hackerspaces; coworking spaces; Fab Labs; open innovation; social innovation; user innovation