Projects / Programmes
Socio-cultural and Organisational Aspects of Knowledge and Technology Transfer
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.03.00 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
|
| 5.04.00 |
Social sciences |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S210 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
small and medium-sized high-tech enterprises, organisational culture, social capital, knowledge transfer, academic entrepreneurship, innovativeness
Researchers (20)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
In this study, we are focussing on the phenomenon of knowledge transfer in the context of small and medium-sized high-tech companies (SMHTCs). These companies are a very grateful and promising object of scientific study since they combine a market and production orientation with the logic of the research group. They focus on business performance as well as the strategy of knowledge management and cognitive mobilisation. In considering SMHTCs we will focus on the socio-cultural aspects of the exchange and circulation of knowledge and absorptive capacity for new ideas and information. We are interested in the link between organisational change, organisational culture and forms of social capital on one hand and strategies of knowledge management on the other. The empirical data we have collected so far (Adam et al., 2014) reveal SMHTCs’ involvement in the academic sphere, while we know less about how the dissemination and exchange of ideas and information with other actors (stakeholders) and firms occurs. The relevance of the use of models of open innovation and co-innovation and identifying the potential for the expansion and growth of SMHTCs will be put under scrutiny. Special attention will be paid to the commonalities among actors in academic and social entrepreneurship. With the help of secondary data from various sources (Eurostat, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Innovation Union Scoreboard etc.), we intend to assess the extent to which the economic crisis is affecting the creation and growth of SMHTCs. In pursuing these objectives, we hope to obtain potentially significant insights relevant to research and industrial policy – including employment policy – in Slovenia and abroad within the EU. It is important to mention that we are the only programme group in the social sciences (and beyond) which deals with SMHTCs and tries to combine the knowledge of entrepreneurship, organisational theory and organisational culture with the cognizance of innovation processes and the societal role of science.
Significance for science
The theme of the research programme is theoretically and scientifically relevant since it deals with processes that are subject to outstanding levels of attention, namely the processes of innovation, knowledge transfer, and high-tech companies. Some members have established themselves in the context of the study of social capital and its impact on development, innovation and cognitive mobilisation. We will also continue in this context. Although, as was mentioned, there is great interest in these concepts and topics that are at the forefront of our research, only a few researchers or teams in Europe are dealing with small and medium-sized high-tech companies (SMHTCs) in conjunction with the academic and social entrepreneurship. Further, no study has analysed in detail the scientific/academic activity of SMHTCs and its impact on the organisation of work and organisational culture as well as others, including business parameters. We believe that our group – small yet internationalised – can become one of the cores drawing researchers together with similar interests. We can surely expect that its impact and visibility in the international scientific community will further increase (as indicated by the dynamics of citations in recent years).
In particular, we should note the methodological orientation in terms of post-positivism which is reflected in the use of triangulation, meta-analyses and the promotion of reflective (and critical) scientific discourse. Worth mentioning is the tendency towards an integral approach that looks beyond the current fragmentation and too narrow specialisation in the social sciences and the limiting to narrow disciplinary frameworks. Above all, we are developing new models of comparative (cross-national) research (according to a model proposed in Adam, 2014).
Significance for the country
The theme of the programme is not only scientifically important, but also actual from the point of view of developmental strategies and the societal promotion of SMHTCs in both Slovenia and the European Union. Let us mention only the cooperation with the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SORS) with regard to improving the data collection procedure relating to research and development (R&D) and innovation (http://www.institut-irsa.si/images/stories/bibliografije/surs-ekspertiza.pdf). Dealing with large databases and the problems of comparative research-based meta-analysis is an incentive for an applied performance in terms of making proposals to correct certain procedures used by the statistical offices and Eurostat.
In addition, all members of the programme team teach at higher education institutions and thus transfer their knowledge to students. Some are lecturers and tutors in doctoral studies. The IRSA Institute in which we operate is associated with many companies and civil society organisations. We are trying to disseminate certain research findings to the public and the media.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
