PROJECT OPEN ARENAS - The evolution of the Lindholmen and Innovatum ‘"arenas’" and their role for innovation in vehicle technology

Report, 2005

The the Lindholmen and Innovatum "arenas’" in Göteborg and Trollhättan were planted on the soil of former industrial giants as shipbuilding industry in Göteborg and heavy manufacturing industries in Trollhättan in Region Västra Götaland. This study describes the evolution these "arenas’" and their role and function for innovation and economic renewal in Swedish automotive industry. The case study has two purposes: First, to tell the story of two such public-private mobilisations in a regional Swedish and global context, and second, to discuss the broader policy implications of this on-going restructuring towards "glocal innovation’". The case takes its starting point from a historical perspective following the development of arenas and local mobilization over a period of time including the recent “intermezzo” in 2004 of the multinational car manufacturer "General Motors" causing one of the larger Swedish innovation policy interventions in decades. The case is analysed with respect to seven issues: The question of how historical processes intervene in current initiatives; The role of systemic features of technology and how this in turn create a need for system innovation; The increasing role of the local-global("glocal") dimension in innovation processes and what this may mean for actors at a national level; The role of Arenas(and "arenas’", which was our more encompassing term) as a new and emerging nexus for public-private partnership; The function of arenas in this respect to provide a structure for innovation processes; The role of these emerging structures, in the form of two Arenas, to develop different characteristics due to adaptation to local circumstances; And finally, we note that the work to establish arenas have created a local/regional preparedness to influence and to take a proactive role for innovation.