The importance of vocational education institutions in manufacturing regions: adding content to a broad definition of regional innovation systems

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the importance of vocational education institutions in regional innovation systems, and the role skilled workers have in implementing new technologies in manufacturing industries. The case study is founded on a broad conceptualisation of RISs, emphasising the importance of all relevant parts of the industrial and institutional system. We analyse the collaboration between industry actors and vocational education institutions in two Norwegian manufacturing regions. The analysis demonstrates how, in developing new education programmes tailored for contemporary and future manufacturing, vocational education institutions are essential for manufacturers’ competitiveness. The paper adds empirical content to the hitherto highly theoretical concept of broad RISs, emphasising the key role of skilled workers and engineering technicians when implementing new manufacturing technologies. Furthermore, we explain how the vocational education institutions and RISs are co-evolving with emerging technologies in terms of changed knowledge demands in the industry, prompting new education programmes in vocational education institutions.

KEYWORDS:

• Regional innovation system
• vocational education
• co-evolution
• manufacturing industry
• Industry 4.0

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Bjørn Terje Asheim and Markus Steen for valuable feedback and comments on earlier drafts.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ By skilled workers, we refer to workers who have received a trade certificate, which is awarded upon the successful completion of a vocational training course.

² The Norwegian Centres of Expertise (NCE) programme is funded by the Norwegian state and administered by Innovation Norway, the Norwegian Research Council and the Industrial Development Corporation of Norway (SIVA).

³ Innovation Norway is a governmental instrument for innovation and the development of Norwegian enterprises and industry.

Additional information

Funding

The work reported in this paper was based on activities within the Centre for Research-Based Innovation SFI Manufacturing in Norway and is partially funded by the Research Council of Norway under contract number [237900].