Business Driven Science and Technology Parks (STPs) for Accelerating Innovation: Cases from Malaysia and India

Avvari V. Mohan 세계과학도시연합 2014 World Technopolis Review Vol.3 No.3

This paper presents two cases of Science and Technology Parks (STPs), from Malaysia and India, that are driven by business organisations in partnership with governments. The need to locate the STP near to a university or a research institute has been considered crucial to attract firms to the STP – but in this paper, we illustrate the efforts to develop a locally relevant STP through the cases of Pahang Bio Science in Malaysia and the ICICI Knowledge Park (now known as IKP) in Hyderabad India. These two developments are anchored by business organisations that are playing a pivotal role in their development. The government plays a supporting role in terms of policy and supplying certain complementary resources. In addition, we note that the government support also provides legitimacy for the business organisation developing the STP. In the case of the Malaysian STP, we note the approach is towards inclusive development by developing linkages to local communities, and in the case of the Indian STP, one can see the development of the STP in a dynamic way changing according to the needs of the sector. Especially interesting is the foresight by the nodal business organisations in developing the STPs.

How Firms Develop Linkages for Development and Growth: Cases in Malaysian Greenfield and Brownfield Technology Parks

Avvari V. Mohan,Isshamudin Ismail 세계과학도시연합 2015 World Technopolis Review Vol.4 No.2

This paper aims to explore how firms develop and grow in regional clusters based in a developing country. The argument is that start-ups / small and large firms are able to grow by developing linkages or networks for resources within clusters – and this tenet is based on studies of firms that are based from such clusters as Silicon Valley in the US, Cambridge in UK and other clusters from which have evolved over long periods of time. Most of the time we hear narratives from the developed world where there are brownfield cluster development efforts. In developing countries governments are making efforts to develop clusters from scratch – which in this paper we term as greenfield cluster versus a brownfield development, which is where the cluster is developed based on existing and new organisations in a region. In this paper, we believe the context of clusters can be important in determining the way firms develop linkages for their growth – and we look at two contexts in Malaysia ie. A greenfield cluster and a brownfield cluster. The paper presents findings from case studies of firms in a greenfield cluster (Cyberjaya) and a brown field cluster (Penang) in Malaysia. The cases reveal fairly different approaches to development of linkages or networks, which we hope will provides insights to cluster development officials and policy makers and implications to researchers for developing studies of clusters and innovation systems.

Human resource management and coordination for innovation activities: gleanings from Malaysian cases

Avvari V. Mohan 기술경영경제학회 2017 ASIAN JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION Vol.25 No.2

This study explores human resource management (HRM) andcoordination for research and development (R&D) or innovationrelatedactivities in companies operating in Malaysia. The casestudies conducted show that internal mechanisms like recruitmentand training can be seen as hygiene factors in all threeorganisations. Reward systems were not discussed as critical in allthree cases. In order for the organisations to up their level oftechnological or innovation capability, external mechanisms forhuman resource development can be seen as critical. This variedin terms of developing links with a foreign university for trainingand also joint projects in the case of large conglomerates, theforeign subsidiary sending personnel to the R&D centre of theheadquarters and links with the government research institute,which was critical. In all the cases, the role of the topmanagement in supporting the R&D (formal or informal) functionwas crucial for innovation capabilities.

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Developments in Malaysia - Existing Actors Moving from a Cluster to a Countrywide Role and the Emergence of New Actors

Avvari V. Mohan 세계과학도시연합 2019 World Technopolis Review Vol.8 No.1

This paper examine the changing ecosystems in Malaysia, starting with the government policy driven greenfield cluster of Cyberjaya, which is part of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) mega project. In this context of an emerging economy, predominantly production oriented, the role of the government was crucial with respect to implementing policies and building infrastructure for the ecosystems. First, the roles played by the cluster development agency, universities, and industry are explained. As the cluster developed, this paper, taking an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach, explores how some actors evolved and changed their roles to become catalyst organisations established for the cluster now serving nationwide. This was followed by the emergence of new actors in the ecosystems, for example, knowledge intermediaries, and new roles for universities. In addition to actors such as universities and industry, this paper recognizes the emergence of media organisations as new actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Malaysia.

How Firms Develop Linkages for Development and Growth - Cases in Malaysian Greenfield and Brownfield Technology Parks

Mohan, Avvari V.,Ismail, Isshamudin World Technopolis Association 2015 World Technopolis Review Vol.4 No.2

This paper aims to explore how firms develop and grow in regional clusters based in a developing country. The argument is that start-ups / small and large firms are able to grow by developing linkages or networks for resources within clusters - and this tenet is based on studies of firms that are based from such clusters as Silicon Valley in the US, Cambridge in UK and other clusters from which have evolved over long periods of time. Most of the time we hear narratives from the developed world where there are brownfield cluster development efforts. In developing countries governments are making efforts to develop clusters from scratch - which in this paper we term as greenfield cluster versus a brownfield development, which is where the cluster is developed based on existing and new organisations in a region. In this paper, we believe the context of clusters can be important in determining the way firms develop linkages for their growth - and we look at two contexts in Malaysia ie. A greenfield cluster and a brownfield cluster. The paper presents findings from case studies of firms in a greenfield cluster (Cyberjaya) and a brown field cluster (Penang) in Malaysia. The cases reveal fairly different approaches to development of linkages or networks, which we hope will provides insights to cluster development officials and policy makers and implications to researchers for developing studies of clusters and innovation systems.

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Developments in Malaysia - Existing Actors Moving from a Cluster to a Countrywide Role and the Emergence of New Actors

Mohan, Avvari V. World Technopolis Association 2019 World Technopolis Review Vol.8 No.1

This paper examine the changing ecosystems in Malaysia, starting with the government policy driven greenfield cluster of Cyberjaya, which is part of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) mega project. In this context of an emerging economy, predominantly production oriented, the role of the government was crucial with respect to implementing policies and building infrastructure for the ecosystems. First, the roles played by the cluster development agency, universities, and industry are explained. As the cluster developed, this paper, taking an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach, explores how some actors evolved and changed their roles to become catalyst organisations established for the cluster now serving nationwide. This was followed by the emergence of new actors in the ecosystems, for example, knowledge intermediaries, and new roles for universities. In addition to actors such as universities and industry, this paper recognizes the emergence of media organisations as new actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Malaysia.

Business Driven Science and Technology Parks (STPs) for Accelerating Innovation: Cases from Malaysia and India

Mohan, Avvari V. World Technopolis Association 2014 World Technopolis Review Vol.3 No.3

This paper presents two cases of Science and Technology Parks (STPs), from Malaysia and India, that are driven by business organisations in partnership with governments. The need to locate the STP near to a university or a research institute has been considered crucial to attract firms to the STP - but in this paper, we illustrate the efforts to develop a locally relevant STP through the cases of Pahang Bio Science in Malaysia and the ICICI Knowledge Park (now known as IKP) in Hyderabad India. These two developments are anchored by business organisations that are playing a pivotal role in their development. The government plays a supporting role in terms of policy and supplying certain complementary resources. In addition, we note that the government support also provides legitimacy for the business organisation developing the STP. In the case of the Malaysian STP, we note the approach is towards inclusive development by developing linkages to local communities, and in the case of the Indian STP, one can see the development of the STP in a dynamic way changing according to the needs of the sector. Especially interesting is the foresight by the nodal business organisations in developing the STPs.

University Linkages in Technology Clusters of Emerging Economies - Exploratory Case Studies from Cyberjaya, Malaysia - a Greenfield Development and Cyberabad, India - a Brownfield Development

Mohan, Avvari V.,Ejnavarzala, Haribabu,Lakshmi, C.N. World Technopolis Association 2012 World Technopolis Review Vol.1 No.1

This paper is concerned with the linkages between universities and industry in the information and communications technology (ICT) in Cyberjaya, Malaysia and Cyberabad, India. In the case of the ICT cluster of Cyberjaya, the context can be termed as greenfield cluster development as the whole project is developed from scratch. In the case of Cyberabad, India, the context can be seen as a brownfield development, where the cluster developed based on existing and new organisations in a region. There is extant literature in research, be it from an Innovation systems or a Triple Helix perspective that has given significant attention to the importance of universities as engines of growth and also about the significance of their linkages with industry innovation in regions. But as argued by scholars like Chaminade et al, most of these papers tend to ignore the specific context in which this interaction between the university and the industry takes place - this study aims to fill this gap through an exploratory study from emerging economies and in a greenfield and brownfield contexts. The findings from the two cases point towards (1) the role of intermediary organisations in developing the linkages, (2) the issue of capabilities of universities for supporting industry development and (3) university-industry linkages are different in greenfield and brown field developments. The paper presents the cases and discusses the findings and provides insights to cluster development officials and policy makers and implications to researchers for developing studies of university-industry from a capabilities and context perspectives.

Development of Technological Innovation System in an Emerging Economy - A Study of the Malaysian Biodiesel Innovation System -

H., Maziar,Avvari, Mohan V. Asian Society for Innovation and Policy 2012 Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy Vol.1 No.2

Studies on innovation point towards the need for both in-house research and development (R&D) capabilities along with collaborations with external organisations or linkages with other firms, universities and research institutes. The argument is that innovation is not just a firm specific factor but requires support from several other factors which in turn involves developing linkages with various actors/institutions as sources of resources and/or knowledge for innovation. This paper presents findings from an exploratory study about the Malaysian biofuel sector as an innovation system. Instead of using the neo-classical approach and proposing policy interventions based on traditional market failure rationale (Bergek et al., 2008a), the functional analysis of the technological innovation systems (TIS) approach is used to analyse the biofuel sector in Malaysia to help reveal the strengths and weaknesses in terms of its fulfillment of seven critical functions which are necessary for the generation and commercialization of a product. In addition an attempt is made to reveal the inducement and blocking mechanisms affecting the Malaysian biofuel TIS and the seeking of improved poor functionality. These functional aspects of the Malaysian biofuel sector are analysed in different phases of its development to gain an understanding of the different institutions and their functions at different phases of the development of the innovation system.

Collectivism, Individualism and Open Innovation: Introduction to the Special Issue on ‘Technology, Open Innovation, Markets and Complexity’

Yun, Jinhyo Joseph,Mohan, Avvari V.,Zhao, Xiaofei SAGE Publications 2017 SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY Vol.22 No.3