Technological and Cultural Challenges in Local Innovation Support Activities—Emerging Knowledge Interactions in Charlotte's Motor Sport Cluster

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the emergence of university–industry partnerships in the motor sports industry cluster located in the Charlotte region of North Carolina, USA. Despite little industry demand for the local engagement, the universities and community colleges started to approach the industry in the late 1990s and recently several new programmes of motor sports-related research and education have been initiated. During the past 3 years, the regional and state governments have also started to play a role in building up support for the motor sports industry. This process has largely been influenced by the ideas of knowledge economy and innovation as an interactive process, by the ideas of the wider social and economic role of universities, and by increase awareness of the relevance of the motor sports industry for the regional economy. Charlotte's motor sports industry is an interesting example of how a previously rather craft-based industry transforms into one in which technology, innovation and creativity play a key role in firm performance. However, the strategy for building up regional capabilities and relationships necessary to support the increased technological intensity of the industry has been slow to develop. This paper addresses the important question of how the universities together with other research and educational organizations can build collaboration with an industry that has traditionally prospered in the region without any links to them, but which in the face of technological challenges needs to reach out to access cutting-edge knowledge and highly qualified personnel.

Acknowledgements

This paper draws heavily on a study by Carlos Martinez-Vela (MIT/IPC) and Kimmo Viljamaa as part of the Local Innovation Systems (LIS) project, an international research partnership based at the MIT Industrial Performance Centre (see Martinez-Vela & Viljamaa, 2005). The author wishes to thank Carlos Martinez-Vela for insightful comments and advice. Also, the Finnish Technology Agency (TEKES) and the Academy of Finland for funding are gratefully acknowledged.

Notes

1. Knowledge institutions include universities, community colleges, motor sport related vocational schools and public R&D laboratories.

2. The interview data was collected together with Carlos Martinez-Vela from IPC/MIT.

3. The study draws on data from the Local Innovation Systems (LIS) project conducted by MIT Industrial Performance Centre (IPC) in collaboration with international partners. The LIS study covers five countries—US, UK, Norway, Finland and Japan with the aim to describe the evolution of local innovation systems in different regions in selected technology areas.

4. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body to organize and promote the sport of stock-car racing. It was founded in 1948 by William France Senior and Ed Otto. The three largest racing series sanctioned by NASCAR are the Nextel Cup, Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series.

5. Yet, despite all the regulations, the performance of the engine, for example, has increased over 300 horsepower in the past 25 years.

6. An estimate given by a team-firm representative in 2003.