Collaboration spaces in Canadian biotechnology: A search for gatekeepers

Authors:
Andrea Schiffauerova;Catherine Beaudry
Affiliations:
Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, ícole Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada;Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, ícole Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada and Center for Interuniversity Research on Science and Technology (CIRST), Canada
Venue:
Journal of Engineering and Technology Management
Year:
2012

Citing 4
Cited 0

Knowledge Networks as Channels and Conduits: The Effects of Spillovers in the Boston Biotechnology Community

Organization Science
Exploratory Social Network Analysis with Pajek

Exploratory Social Network Analysis with Pajek
Absorptive and transformative capacities in nanotechnology innovation systems

Journal of Engineering and Technology Management
Small Worlds and Regional Innovation

Organization Science

Quantified Score

Hi-index	0.00

Visualization

Abstract

The paper studies the network of Canadian biotechnology co-inventors and compares the structure of the links between inventors within, and outside of, the cluster. Two types of proximity between individuals are compared: within cluster co-invention refers to geographical proximity while co-patenting links (network component) represent social proximity between inventors of an epistemic community. We show that the cluster-based subnetworks are more fragmented and less centralized than the network components. The paper then proposes two indicators measuring an inventor's importance as a gatekeeper, i.e. an individual at the cluster's frontier responsible for the inflow of the external knowledge to the cluster.