Knowledge-based Economy

Levidow, L., Birch, K. and Papaioannou, T. (2012) 'EU agri-innovation policy: Two contending visions of the knowledge-based bio-economy', Critical Policy Studies 6(1): 40-66.

by Kean Birch

The knowledge-based bio-economy has gained prominence as a research and innovation policy of the European Union. As a... more The knowledge-based bio-economy has gained prominence as a research and innovation policy of the European Union. As a policy framework the knowledge-based bio-economy has attracted two contending visions, which can be analyzed as imaginaries – strategic discourses prefiguring a possible, desirable future. In the dominant vision, life sciences will enhance productivity for European competitive advantage 10 in global value chains. A rival vision links agroecology and shorter food supply chains, as a means for farmers to gain more from the value that they add. Each vision favors a different diagnosis of unsustainable agriculture and eco-efficient remedies. Each extends a different paradigm of agri-innovation, foreseeing an economic community that can gain from future markets. These two contending visions give different meanings to the same key terms – knowledge, biological resources and economy. In the EU’s research program for a knowledge-based bio-economy, a life sciences vision dominates the priorities, though agroecology has also gained a significant place in response to proposals from stakeholder networks. Through these efforts, research policy priorities have
been opened up to more plural agri-innovation pathways.

Development and Career Opportunities of IT Professionals: The Virtuous Cycle

by Fernando Belfo

Conference Paper in the 2nd International Conference on Managing Services in the Knowledge Economy, MSKE 2011, 225-233, Lusíada University, Famalicão, Portugal. 13-15 July, 2011

Publisher: CLEGI - Centro Lusíada de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial
Editores: Prof. Doutor Rui Silva e Prof. Doutor Eduardo Tomé
ISBN: 978-989-640-103-0 (Book) | Legal Deposit: 330838/11

One consequence of the Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE) is that organizations will need more qualified professionals.... more One consequence of the Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE) is that organizations will need more qualified professionals. These workers should be sufficiently educated with new and specific knowledge, appropriate approach about knowledge processes, ability to use and expand supporting tools like knowledge management systems and also an open-minded with regard to knowledge acquisition. KBE is typically supported by services; therefore, supported by Information and Technology (IT) and its professionals. Consequently, this potentiate the offer of some new career opportunities to IT staff. Specific incentives may be added to general policy trying to capture or keep talents and skills. Besides traditional monetary compensation, other specific dimensions may represent special incentives, like the development of new skills. Studies found this may represent one important job characteristic by IT employees. Motivated, IT professionals may better support business, contributing to a higher business and IT alignment and so, contributing to improve organizational productivity and competitiveness. This article proposes the possibility to create and stimulate a virtuous cycle, taking into account one main objective: the creation of value to the firm. This virtuous cycle is composed by four steps: (1) productivity and competitiveness enhancement, (2) knowledge skill’s expansion, (3) reinforcement of IT staff incentives and (4) business and IT alignment. Article shows interconnections between achievements, research gaps and future research directions in order to advance research and practice about development and career opportunities of IT professionals.

Organization capital and firm performance. Empirical evidence for European firms

by Giuseppe Vittucci Marzetti

Co-authored with Claudia Tronconi,
published in Economics Letters, 2011, 112, 141-143

The paper assesses the impact of Organization Capital (OC) on firm performance for a sample of European firms. OC is... more The paper assesses the impact of Organization Capital (OC) on firm performance for a sample of European firms. OC is proxied by capitalizing Selling, General and Administrative expenses, an income statement item. Results are robust and show the strong effect of OC on firm performance.

Competency-based training in knowledge-age

by Roseller Santos

“Weakness” as “Strength” in the Scottish Life Sciences: The Institutional Grounding of Knowledge‐based Commodity Chains in a Less‐favoured Region

by Kean Birch

Knowledge, space, and economic governance: the implications of knowledge-based commodity chains for less-favoured regions

by Kean Birch