Lighting a Lamp- Citizenship Behavior and Social Capital

Abstract

Technology mediation programs sponsored by governments are widely regarded as essential elements of an innovation system, promoting knowledge and technology diffusion and innovation (Asheim 1996; Cooke Hassink 1996). The innovation systems' perspective suggests that the innovative activities of firms are dependent on access to external as well as internal knowledge, from suppliers, customers, universities, public and private R&D agencies and technology mediating organizations (Dosi 1988). However, although governments in developed and developing countries have established and promoted intermediary organisations, the evidence is mixed regarding the effectiveness of these interventions in innovation systems. On the one hand, it has been found that firms, particularly SMEs, tend to rely on internal sources of innovation or supply chain related sources, such as suppliers and customers (Mohannak 2003). On the other hand, it has been argued that the types of assistance provided by intermediary organizations are not always well aligned with the needs of SMEs (North, Smallbone and Vickers 200 I). Furthermore, little work has been done to examine the relationship between access to technology mediation and pricing of products. This paper reports on a study of a technology mediation program that is funded by the government and delivered through a specialist business development/R&D support organization in the manufacturing sector in an Australian State. The study explored the relationship between the purpose of the technology mediation program, the types of assistance provided to SMEs and the innovative activities of firms. The relevance of product pricing to take up of this type of innovation assistance was also examined. The results of the study point to the importance of government-sponsored technology mediating programs for SME innovation. However, a number of issues were also identified relating to the focus of the program and the pricing of the products.