A spatial analysis of small- and medium-sized information technology firms in Canada and the importance of local connections to institutions of higher education

As part of community/regional development policy, governments in Canada attempt to create conditions that stimulate the formation of high-technology clusters and, in so doing, often encourage firm–university/college liaisons. Information technology (IT) is an important segment of the high-technology sector, and small- and medium-sized Canadian IT firms are disproportionately attracted to large metropolitan areas (with Toronto, Ottawa–Hull, Vancouver, Calgary, Montréal, Kitchener and Edmonton being the most noteworthy). A nearest neighbour analysis suggests that small- and medium-sized IT firms are clustered within the metropolitan setting, and a nearest neighbour hierarchical spatial clustering technique demonstrates that intra-urban IT agglomerations can be objectively identified. The linkages between small- and medium-sized IT firms and higher education institutions are, on average, not strongly entrenched within Canada's IT culture, although many of these firms still connect with universities or colleges through co-operative programs and other means of employee recruitment and via general networking with faculty members. Thus, governments may be able to support IT cluster formation by encouraging firm–university/college connections that centre on student participation.     

ANALYTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ROMAN PLASTERS OF THE ‘DOMUS FARINI’ IN MODENA*

The paper refers to the analytical characterization of Roman painted plasters dating back to the second century ad . The following techniques were used: optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDS), micro‐Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies (µ‐Raman and FT–IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRPD), colorimetry and thermal analyses (TG/DTA). The investigation analysed the chemical composition and structure of the plasters, the chemical composition of the pigment layers, the use of binders and any chemical alteration of pigments as well as deterioration of the samples. Stratigraphic analysis of plasters allowed identification of their individual components, which proved helpful in finding out more about the mural painting technique employed.     

Evaluating the governance of structural funds programmes: The case of community economic development in South Yorkshire

Methods for evaluating regional and urban policies have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. However, this paper argues that the evaluation of Structural Funds programmes has systematically underplayed the effect of governance on both programme design and implementation. This paper uses the role of voluntary and community sector organizations in promoting community economic development initiatives within the European Union's Structural Funds programmes in South Yorkshire as a case study. An argument is made for extending evaluation methods, especially theory-based evaluation, through using multi-level governance as a “theory of change”. A key finding is that to explain how programmes work, evaluators need to consider formal partnership and management arrangements, their traditional focus, but also wider governance structures and the importance of informal policy networks. Such a focus allows for a consideration of issues such as resource mobilization and power.