Technology Transfer between Technology Centres and SMEs: Evidence from the Basque Country

Public policies (often at the regional level) favouring pre-competitive research and cooperative research and development have played a decisive role in the development of technology centres in Europe and all over the world. The technology offer model gave priority to the creation of technology transfer organizations and structures, but there is increasing evidence that this model did not attach enough attention to the needs of small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) and in particular, to their capacity to take in knowledge. In this paper, based on qualitative research, we show in detail some of the main issues involved in the relationships between technology centres and SMEs in the Basque Country, a region that has developed intensive policies favouring technology transfer organizations over the years.     

Panorama of the Basque Country and its Competence for Self-Government

The aim of this article is to present a panoramic view of the Basque Country's capacity and competence for self-government. We have analysed the historical process of industrialization, the effects of the industrial crisis and new possibilities for development of the area's own regional policy based on new institutions (Government and Provincial Councils) that emerged from administrative decentralization in Spain after 1980. In the following section, we analyse the scope of authority in EU regions. Some of the cultural and transport infrastructure projects backed by these Basque institutions are studied. These projects have had a considerable impact on the Bilbao Metropolitan Area. The changes observed in the nation state, specifically in Europe, show contradictory effects. However, they have reduced the State's sovereignty but at the same time have prompted the State to retain powers rather than transfer them to lower institutional levels. This clashes with the desire of some regions or historical nations to access greater shares of self-government, such as the case of the Basque Country.     

The Impact of Conflict on a Country's Economy: An Obligatory Response to Beatriz Plaza

This paper is a response to Beatriz Plaza's reply to an article we wrote for European Planning Studies, 8(4) (2000). We argued that a society in which a wide range of agents and institutions exhibits a well-developed set of values (confidence, cooperation, solidarity, etc.) is likely to be more socio-economically efficient. We will demonstrate that our critic's reply makes absolutely no reference whatsoever to our article's central theses. Moreover, the reply completely ignores the temporal context of our article. We disagree with the manner in which our critic has presented the data to 'demonstrate' the negative impact of terrorism, something that is very obvious. The real effect of violence and terrorism on a society transcends what is reflected in data that are frequently incomplete and lacking in context. Empirical social analyses increasingly attempt to use more personalized, qualitative surveys, instead of econometric models that are not capable of explaining a richer social reality. Analysis of the trends in and evolution of tourism could also help explain phenomena that extend beyond the strict scope of the Basque economy. Knowledge of the tourist sector and the capacity for sound analysis are prerequisites for anyone claiming to do a serious study or critique on the topic. Given the points cited above, we believe that our critic's reply to our article is incomplete, lacking in context, useless, unnecessary, incoherent, and demagogic. We thus still believe each and every one of the arguments in our article to be valid, and do not see how our critic has in any way called them into question. We believe that our critic is completely off the mark in criticizing us so harshly and so unfoundedly.     

Networks and spatial dynamics: The case of the Basque country

This article analyzes the relationship between the internal development capacity of a region and the establishment of external infrastructures which link various centres and create cohesive spaces. The methodological approach is based on two types of network (1) internal networks (INs) bring together a wide range of economic and institutional agents; (2) external networks of infrastructures (ENs) show an increasingly international orientation and accompany the spatial dynamic. The theoretical approximation serves as a starting point for the study of some important projects the aim of which is the diffusion of ENs in the Basque country (roads, railways, airports and telecommunications). These projects are occasionally connected with the dynamics of INs that tend to be set up in the metropolitan area of Bilbao.     

"Have I Got a Monster for You!": Some Thoughts on the Golem,The X-Files and the Jewish Horror Movie

The figure of the golem, the Jewish "mud man," has persisted not only in folklore, but in popular culture as well; not only in Jewish tradition, but in Gentile too; it has inspired not only horror writers, but also scientists, who see in this legend a metaphor for humanity's quest for the creation of life. One particular variation of this story is the focus of this paper: in February 1997, Fox Television's highly acclaimed weekly television show The X-Files told the story of the golem, but with certain new features added. These additions annoyed a number of fans, and they expressed their concerns on the Internet newsgroup, alt.tv.x-files. Not all of the problems identified by these tuned-in vernacular theorists were errors, I think; instead, they point to a number of issues concerning the nature of "monstrosity" and "horror." In this case, those issues are framed within a Jewish context. This paper will begin with a brief overview of the legend of the golem, which, like most folk legends, exists in multiple forms. I hope to demonstrate that The X-Files episode should be regarded as one further variant of this legend. I also outline the objections many of the show's fans had to that particular episode, specifically the variance between The X-Files version and Jewish tradition. Finally, I will say why I feel these "errors" are not mistakes, but perhaps operate to define the monstrous within Jewish culture. "Go ahead … make my mitzvah!" (Dennis Terrell, on alt.tv.x-files)     

Evaluating European Regional Innovation Strategies

In this paper we analyse the degree of achievement of the Regional Innovation Strategy goals. This is an European Union Commission policy oriented toward the promotion of regional Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy design through the involvement of regional stakeholders. We analyse two categories of objectives: those dealing with process participation and those dealing with behavioural change. Our results show that the overall achievement of the goals is meaningful: the former have been achieved in a larger extent than the latter ones. However, other aspects such as multidisciplinary, and the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation system have not been so fruitful.     

Selection and Exploitation of Macro‐Vertebrate Resources During the Upper Palaeolithic in Northern Spain. New Evidence from Coímbre Cave (Peñamellera Alta,Asturias)

The exploitation of ungulates in the Cantabrian region during the Upper Palaeolithic is characterized by the appearance of progressively specialized hunting strategies, especially during the Magdalenian. This specialization focused on either Iberian ibex or red deer, depending on environmental or topographic features. Red deer, for instance, was hunted mostly on the plains while ibex and/or chamois was hunted in rocky and mountainous areas. Here we present new zooarchaeological and taphonomic evidence from Coímbre cave (northern Spain), a site located in the rugged region between the Picos de Europa and Sierra del Cuera (Asturias) which has evidence for specialized ibex hunting. We discuss the possible reasons for such a selective hunting pattern. While the predominance of mountain species such as Iberian ibex or chamois in the Magdalenian levels suggests prey selection based on topographic or environmental criteria, the predominance of large bovids in the Gravettian level could imply that other alternatives were available. We also provide evidence of a pattern of rabbit exploitation which is unusual by comparison with other Upper Palaeolithic sites of northern Spain, and which taphonomic evidence suggests was due to human activity.