Distritual innovation systems as an analytical tool for assessment and intervention - Daniel Gabaldón-Estevan - RSA Research Network Governing the Sustainability Transition: Defining Challenges and Opportunities for the Regional Scale (St. Gallen 10th july 2014)

1. Distritual Innovation Systems as an
analytical tool for assessment and
intervention
Daniel Gabaldón-Estevan | St. Gallen 10/07/2014
Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Faculty of Social
Sciences,
University of Valencia- Valencia (ES) - daniel.gabaldon@uv.es

2. Index0.
Introduction1.
Theoretical framework2.
Methods3.
Results4.
Discussion5.

3. Debate on the sustainability of the actual production model of
‘developed countries’ within globalisation:
Increased demand of resources
Limited capacity of the environment to assimilate human activity
Increase public awareness and demands for the improvement
environment quality
Therefore we need tools to asses performance: Is being done
all what is needed regarding industrial activity within the EU? Is
it EU industry looked in?
But also for a prospective purpose: What are the challenges?
How aware and ready are the internal agents to overcome those
challenges?
Introduction: The rationale1.a

4. Introduction: Fact 1 industrial agglomerations in Italy1.b
Istituto per la Promozione
Industriale 2002, (based on ISTAT )

5. “El mapa dels districtes industrials d’España”
Conference by Joan Trullén, Castellón 28/06/2005
Introduction: Fact 2 industrial agglomerations in Spain1.c

6. o Directive 2004/8/EC Of The European Parliament And Of The Council of 11 February 2004 on the promotion of
cogeneration based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market
o Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so
as to improve and extend the green house gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community.
o Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Energy Performance of Buildings
o Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions
(integrated pollution prevention and control)
o Directive 2011/91/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the
effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.
oCOM(2011) 109 final Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 8 March 2011 – Energy Efficiency Plan 2011
o COM(2011) 112 final. Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament, The Council, The European
Economic And Social Committee And The Committee Of The Regions. A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low
carbon economy in 2050
o Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency
o Horizon 2020 - The Framework Program for Research and Innovation
Introduction: Environmental policies in the EU1.d

7. WelfareInnovation Competitiveness
Internal sources External sources
Innovation system
=
Traditional industrial
sectors
EU regions SME
Success ‘70
Difficulties since
end of ’90s
Marshallian industrial
district
=
¿homogeneity?Distritual innovation
system¿sectorial?
¿territorial?
Theoretical framework: In search for analytical tools to study this phenomena2.a

8. 5.
Evolutionary
economics
FilièreLearning
(know how, learning by
doing)
Knowledge
networks
Institutional
framework
Innovation
system
Distritual
System of
Innovation
Productive
specialization
District effect
economies
Community &
feeling of
belonging
Interrelation &
proximity
Theoretical framework: Applying the systemic approach to industrial districts2.b

9. Population of companies centred on a productive activity (Bellandi, 2006; Coro & Micelli, 2007)
Human resources available and specialized (Sforzi, 2006; Sabel, 1982)
Tension and dynamism at the aglomeration (Brusco, 1990; Dei Ottati, 1994)
Easiness of both technological change and credit (Pyke y Sengenberger, 1992; Brusco, 1994)
[…] “socioterritorial entity characterised by the
active presence of both a community of people and
a group of companies on a natural and historically
determined area .
At the district […] the community and the companies
tend to melt together”.
(Becattini, 1992, pp. 62-63).
Marshallian Industrial district
Cluster
Industrial district
(Marshall, 1890)
(Becattini, 1979, 1986, 1992)
Feeling of
belonging
Concentration &
specialization
Competence &
cooperation
Difficulties of
appropriation
External
economies
Theoretical framework: The influence of proximity on companies performance2.c

10. […] “all important economic, social, political,
organizational, institutional and other factors that
influence the development, diffusion and use of
innovations” (Edquist, 2004, pp. 182)
Sectoral system
of innovation
Technological systems
(Breschi and Malerba, 1997;
Malerba, 2002)
(Carlsson and Stankiewitz, 1995;
Huges, 1984; Callon, 1992)
Knowledge Heterogeneity InstitutionsLearning Interrelations
National system
of innovation
Regional system
of innovation
(Freeman, 1987;
Lundvall, 1988, 1992; Nelson, 1993)
(Cooke, 1993 and 2001;
Saxenian, 1985; Jaffe et al., 1993)
Evolutionist
perspective
(Nelson and Winter, 1977 and 1982)
Functional approach
(Bergek et al., 2008;
Jacobsson and Johnson, 2000;
Edquist, 1997)
Distritual
Innovation system
(Gabaldon-Estevan et al., 2011)
Theoretical framework: Innovation is a collective and an interactive process2.d

11. (Istituto per la
Promozione
Industriale
2002 )
Theoretical framework: Proximity vs complementarityindustry2.e

12. Theoretical framework: Proximity vs isolation but also renewalindustry2.f

13. Technological
and advanced
services
providers’
environment
Legal & institutional framework
Distribution &
consumption
Frits, glaze &
ceramic colour
Tile
production
Machinery &
equipment
Raw material
extraction
Design
Scientific environment
Productive
environment
Adapted from Fernández, I., et al. (1996)
Semi-structured interviews
(24 ES e IT) tile
Semi-structured interviews (14)
frits, glaze and ceramic colour
Secondary analysis
(INE, SABI)
Tools: the value chain analysis and the structural analysis3.a

14. Knowledge development
and diffusion
Influence on the
direction of search
Market evolution
and competition
Legitimation / counteracting
resistance to change
Resource
mobilisation
Semi-structured interviews (15) including managers of ceramic, electro-
mechanical, glaze companies or atomization plants; representatives of
employers’ or workers’ associations; directors of research institutions
responsible for R&D for the industry; academics and consultants
Entrepreneurial
experimentation
Adapted from Johnson A. (2001)
Functions analysis is based on idea that a well functioning innovation
system requires that a number of key activities takes place.
If this occurs, output of innovations is higher.
Tools: the functional analysis3.b

15. Tools: Environmental issues on the development of the industry3.c

16. 16
Onda
L’Alcora
Vila-real
CastellónAlmazora
Sant Joan
de Moró
Results: Locating the industry4.a

17. Results: The ceramic tile value chainthe industry4.b

18. Adaptación de Fernández, I., et al. (1996)
Results: The components of the Spanish tile distritual innovation Systemy4.c

19. Knowledge development
and diffusion
Influence on the
direction of search
Entrepreneurial
experimentation
Market evolution
and competition
reductions in materials use,
energy and water consumption
a Schumpeter Mark II scenario competing on price is no longer a good
strategy
Legitimation / counteracting
resistance to change
increase in public awareness regarding
environmental and health issues
Resource
mobilisation
Infrastructures and financial capital fine,
some needs in human capital and
challenge in raw materials
Strength in physics, chemistry and engineering;
Weak in distribution and commercialisation,
technician crucial in the diffusion
Results: Analysing the dynamics and functionality of the DIS4.d

20. Energy
consumption
Materials use
Water
consumption
- Tile industry is a big energy consumer (gas & electric).
- Transition from oil to gas in the 80’s & new kilns reduced
firing times from 35-45 hours to 35-70 minutes.
- Atomisers have cogeneration (total efficiency to 85-90%)
so further reductions in of carbon dioxide (CO2) and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions more difficult.
- Availability of raw materials worldwide will worsen as
production increases in developing countries.
- Locally mining activity is being displaced to more remote
areas because of the environmental impact.
- Water is intensively used in the ceramic tile
manufacturing process.
- Efforts are directed either to reduce the thickness.
- To recycle of the refuse-mud (reduces the need for
water and suppresses dumping).
- Or to improve the dry route powder processing.
Results: Inputshe industry4.e

21. Pollution
Product
Waste
- Tile industry has done progress in substituting most of
the hazardous elements that characterised
production in the early industrialisation years.
However there are still areas for improvement:
- Further reduce carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Deal with elements as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), boron
(B), sulphur (S), sulphur dioxide (SO2), or fluorine
(F).
- And dust pollution, specially suspended particles due to
transportation.
- Sustainable product due to its characteristics: resistant,
durable, versatile, requires low maintenance and aseptic.
- Green developments are thinner tiles, photovoltaic tiles
-Active surface tiles combining tile with other elements
that provide an added benefit or fulfilling an new function.
- Ventilated facades, radiant ceramic tiles, raised floor
systems for flat roofs, ceramic lattice, Pot-in-pot system,
Giraplax, Trombeta for Trombe wall and dry collocation.
- 17% of the waste is reincorporated to the process (some
lines of product with about 80% recycled material).
- Efforts are directed towards integrating ceramic leftovers
in other products (like asphalt), towards recycling the
waste produced by the ceramics industry to produce
mortars, and towards new potential sources for the
production of ceramic tiles from other industrial
Results: Outputsindustry4.f

22. Legislation
Legitimation
Market
-. EPBD seen as an opportunity to promote their recent
developments into the building sector.
- IPCC seen as beneficial because it promotes adoption
of the best available technology in terms of energy
use.
- Kyoto and emissions rights: problem with twin industries
& hope that it will change to best available
technologies.
- REACH regulation could force the disappearance of
small and medium frits and glaze companies.- Long tradition of good status and legitimation challenged
since 1990s (increase in production, high geographical
new environmental regulation and control and other
economic activities)
- Will to keep legimated by moving to environmental
production (Environmental Product Declaration or the EU-
ECOLABEL) to improve public image and secure markets
with high environmental consciousness.
-.Delocalisation of production centres will continue
- Providers experience problems in transposing their R&D
effort to clients via the products they acquire.
- A focus on technology and ecology would make Spanish
industry very competitive.
Results: Context4.g

23. i) an important part of the scientific community, together with other
social actors, agree on demanding big changes on development
strategies in order to reconfigure our societies according to
sustainability;
ii) limits to economic growth should be approached globally (think
global, act at local/regional/national/sectorial or distritual)
iii) to achieve sustainability, far-reaching changes along different
dimensions (technological, material, organisational, institutional,
political economic and socio-cultural) have to occur;
iv) distritual innovation systems can be conceived as complex and
interrelated systems where their social, economic, political,
cultural, physical and environmental dimensions can be
analysed as innovation systems the performance of which can
be analysed and changes implemented.
Discussion5.a

24. Thank you for your attention
Monfort, E.; Mezquita, A.; Vaquer, E.; Gabaldón-Estevan, D. (2014) La evolución energética del sector español de baldosas
cerámicas Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio - Forthcoming -
Gabaldón-Estevan, D.; Criado, E.; Monfort, E. (2014) The Green Factor in European Manufacturing: A case study of the
Spanish ceramic tile industry. Journal of Cleaner Production 70, 242-250
Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652614001620
Gabaldón-Estevan, D.; Hekkert M.P. (2013) How Does the Innovation System in the Spanish Tile Sector Function? Boletín
de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio 52 (3) 151-158
Available at: http://ceramicayvidrio.revistas.csic.es/index.php/ceramicayvidrio/article/download/1205/1239
Gabaldón-Estevan, D.; Fernández de Lucio, I. and Molina Morales, FX. (2012) Distritual Innovation Systems. ARBOR-
Ciencia pensamiento y cultura, 188 (753), pp. 63-73
Available at: http://arbor.revistas.csic.es/index.php/arbor/article/download/1448/1457
Gabaldón-Estevan, D. (2011) El sistema distritual de innovación cerámico de Castellón. Universitat de València. Servei de
Publicacions. - Available at: http://rodrigo.uv.es/bitstream/handle/10550/23431/gabaldon.pdf?sequence=1
Tortajada Esparza, E.; Gabaldón-Estevan, D. and Fernández de Lucio I. (2008) La evolución tecnológica del distrito
cerámico de Castellón: la contribución de la industria de fritas, colores y esmaltes. Boletín de la Sociedad Española de
Cerámica y Vidrio. 47 (2) pp. 57-80 - Available at: http://boletines.secv.es/upload/20080512114901.47[2]57-80.pdf
Daniel Gabaldón-Estevan
Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Faculty of Social
Sciences,
University of Valencia- Valencia (ES) - daniel.gabaldon@uv.es
Some of our references5.b