Network quality: The 'well-stirred reactor': evolution of Industry-government-university relations in Canada

摘要

The history of government-university-industry interaction in Canada shows us that the quality of intersectoral networks is crucial. An ex- planatory model is developed which is based on networks sufficiently connected that a 'phase transition' to high interactivity can occur. The assertion is that innovations are events that 'crystallize' out of such highly connected net- works. It appears that the existence of critically complex communication networks that allowed this crystallization was as important as, or more important than explicitly articulated govern- ment policies. The model should be useful be- yond the Canadian case.