Power relations in European RDI-collaboration networks. Disparities in policy-driven opportunities for knowledge generation in ICT

Abstract

Due to their potential for economic growth and development, the enabling technologies of the digital transformation, ICT and complementary fields such as advanced robotics, artificial intelligence and smart systems integration, are high on the innovation policy agenda of the EU. A strong innovative performance of the EU in this technology field depends inter alia on the extent to which the bundling of resources for innovative activities is achieved and disparities in innovative activities between its member states are overcome. Focusing on Horizon 2020, we trace disparities of knowledge generation in ICT across the geographical dimension and the network dimension. We apply descriptive and analytical statistics as well as network analysis to the CORDIS database and connect our findings to the distribution of power between EU member states and other countries associated with Horizon 2020. We then investigate whether there is power-law behaviour in our empirical data. We find a rather unequal distribution of power between countries that manifests in country size, per capita income and member status in the EU. Future innovation policy needs to prioritise a more cohesive and egalitarian European knowledge base in this strategic technology field and cope with the current imbalances in the distribution of power.