TY - JOUR
T1 - Competitive low-tech manufacturing and challenges for regional policy in the European context
T2 - lessons from the Danish experience
AU - Hansen, Teis
AU - Winther, Lars
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - Today, low-tech firms in high-wage countries are focusing on increasing investments in highly skilled labour and advanced machinery, incremental innovation and high value-added niches. Danish policy, however, gives little attention to the new specificities of low-tech manufacturing, and the understanding of innovation in national and regional strategies is dominated by a science-based perspective. There is a strong policy focus on human capital and research and development in manufacturing. Human capital is vital to manufacturing in general, but the latter is of less importance for low-tech firms. Conversely, user–producer interactions and machinery investments, which are critical to low-tech competitiveness, are disregarded by policies.
AB - Today, low-tech firms in high-wage countries are focusing on increasing investments in highly skilled labour and advanced machinery, incremental innovation and high value-added niches. Danish policy, however, gives little attention to the new specificities of low-tech manufacturing, and the understanding of innovation in national and regional strategies is dominated by a science-based perspective. There is a strong policy focus on human capital and research and development in manufacturing. Human capital is vital to manufacturing in general, but the latter is of less importance for low-tech firms. Conversely, user–producer interactions and machinery investments, which are critical to low-tech competitiveness, are disregarded by policies.
U2 - 10.1093/cjres/rsu015
DO - 10.1093/cjres/rsu015
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1752-1378
VL - 7
SP - 449
EP - 470
JO - Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society
JF - Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society
IS - 3
ER -