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R&D Globalisation - The Role of MNCs
| Speaker : |
Jon
Sigurdson
Professor of Research Policy,
Stockholm School of Economics |
| Date: |
14 June 2000 (Wednesday) |
| Time: |
10.30 am - 12.00noon |
| Venue: |
Seminar Room 4, FBA2 Building,
#04-40, Faculty of Business Administration,
Business Link, National University of Singapore.
(Enter by Kent Ridge Drive, into Business
Link. Refer to Campus
Map, section E4) |
Abstract
The seminar will address the issues related to MNCs
significantly shifting their R&D facilities away
from their home countries. The shift of R&D resources
is partly a consequence of mergers and acquisitions.
It is likely that both trends - expanding R&D abroad
and acquiring R&D facilities abroad - will continue.
It is essential to understand the global pattern
of R&D expansion and its underlying forces in order
to identify conditions to remain an attractive location
for a continued location and expansion of frontline
technological and scientific research. Two issues
stand out. One is market closeness, which partly
reflects the contradiction between centralisation
versus decentralisation. The other is the quest
for basic competencies and global product development,
with a tendency to generate R&D clusters.
The seminar will draw on results from recent interviews
in Swedish MNCs such as Autoliv (seatbelts
and airbags) and Ericsson (mobile telecommunications).
Autoliv provides an example of a global company
where the R&D activities have evolved into a highly
decentralised structure for development in the manufacturing
plants, R&D in technical centres and a small core
of basic research in a central location in Sweden.
Ericsson provides an example of a global company
where the R&D activities have evolved into a highly
decentralised structure with development (design
and software development) carried out in large number
of places and coordinated by legal entities in a
number of countries. R&D is done in a smaller number
of technical centres while basic research is primarily
carried out in a central location in Sweden.
About the Speaker
Jon
Sigurdson is Professor of Research Policy and
presently holds the ASTRA Chair of East Science
and Technology at the Stockholm School of Economics.
His recent books include Science and Technology
in Japan (1995) and Future Advantage Japan? - Technology
Strategies for Chemical and Pharmaceutical Companies
(1996). Recently completed projects include Globalisation
(Triadisation) of Science and Technology - An Attempt
to Identify the Effects on Nations and EU and their
Policy Responses which has been carried out within
an European Union (EU) research consortium. Major
ongoing work is a Mapping of Corporate R&D in Sweden
and its Internationalisation.
Sigurdson's research centres on science policy with
special interest in technology management at national
and company level. This includes the emerging character
of globalising companies in a geo-economic environment
and their interaction with national systems for
innovation. Ongoing research covers the following
areas:
- Forces and emerging institutions in the processes
of interaction between corporate innovation
systems (CIS) and national innovation systems
(NIS);
- The emerging character of the global innovation
system (GIS) that emerges from the interaction
between national innovation systems and corporate
innovation systems; and
- Structural changes in the electronics and
information technologies industries.
We are pleased to invite you and your colleagues
to attend the talk.
As there are limited number of seats available,
please register for the talk via email to cmtsimbh@nus.edu.sg
or Fax: 873 7809,
with your name,designation and company/institution,
by 12 June 2000.
Admission is free.
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