Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My research interrests focus on the development and leveraging of technological capabilities at different units of analysis.
Historically my interest in innovation, capabilities and competences, originated in the development of corporate technological competence and the importance of having both a set of core competences and a diverse technological base for corporate longevity in a range of manufacturing industries. The diversity of their technological competences enables firms to recognise the potential of other firms as future partners for innovative purposes and to work with them; the subset of core competences, enable a firm to develop specialist expertise in an area which make them attractive as partners to others. I am now applying similar underlying principles to the consideration of regional level innovation capability development and the growth of intra- and inter-regional networks.
My current research considers 'place-based' perspectives combined with industrial and innovation policy. I am interested in how the enhancement of regional capabilities can potentially overthrow the constraints of regions being identified on the basis of standard industrial classifications and how this can then lead to new innovation and market opportunities. Within this, I also consider the role of universities as anchor institutions with respect to the development of innovative capabilities.
I have worked on regional development issues in the South West of England (including the University's successful bid for the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPs), and currently hold a Regional Studies Association Policy Expo grant examining how industrial policy can assist firms in peripheral EU regions to participate fully in smart specialisation frameworks. I have also served as an academic adviser to the Cabinet Office about the role of universities in regional growth through the Cabinet Office's Launchpad initiative, designed to bring civil servants together with outside experts to share ideas and develop new policies.
I would welcome approaches from potential PhD students and researchers with interests in these areas.
Willing to supervise doctoral students
I am interested in supervising PhD students with an interest in adopting a competence-based perspective on technological innovation, R&D and networks.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Corporate Technological Competence and the Evolution of Technological Diversification, University of Reading
Award Date: 1 Jan 1999
Master of Arts, International Business and European Integration in Western Europe, University of Reading
Award Date: 1 Jan 1994
Bachelor of Arts, Applied Economics, University of Ulster
Award Date: 1 Jan 1993
External positions
External Examiner for Postgraduate Management Programmes, Birkbeck, University of London
7 Mar 2016 → …
External Examiner for International Business and Management, University of Strathclyde
18 Mar 2010 → 1 Jun 2013
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Made Smarter Innovation - People-Led Digitalisation
Newnes, L., Barzotto, M., Battarra, M., Brace, C., Branicki, L., Burke, R., Davidson, M., Dhokia, V., Edwards, B., Ehrhardt, B., Fai, F., Flynn, J., Giannikas, V., Hintermair, U., Kyprianou, A., Larkin, C., Lattanzio, S., Loukaides, E., McManus, M., Pearce, N., Shepherd, P., Shokrani Chaharsooghi, A., Tomlinson, P., Zhang, N., Carey, E., Ehrhardt, B., Garcia Lazaro, A. & Lattanzio, S.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/09/21 → 28/02/25
Project: Research council
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OC37R17P - Advanced Engineering and Digital Innovation Business Acceleration Hub
Bilzon, J., Akehurst, S., Brace, C., Campbell, N., Dimov, D., Fai, F., Hawley, G., Lutteroth, C., Tabor, A., Tomlinson, P. & Turner, J.
European Regional Development Fund
1/05/18 → 31/12/21
Project: EU Commission
Research output
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External collaboration for innovation: firms, industry, regions and policy
Barzotto, M., Corradini, C., Fai, F., Labory, S. & Tomlinson, P. R., 13 Jan 2023, Handbook of Industrial Development . Bianchi, P., Labory, S. & Tomlinson, P. (eds.). Cheltenham, U. K.: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, p. 183-200Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter or section
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How co-working spaces can boost local economies
Barzotto, M., Tomlinson, P. R. & Fai, F., 10 Jul 2023, The Conversation.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
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Actors, knowledge and path transformations in a declining cluster
Fai, F., Tomlinson, P. R. & Branston, J. R., 31 Oct 2022, In: European Urban and Regional Studies. 29, 4, p. 498-514 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access5 Citations (SciVal) -
The attractiveness of university and corporate anchor tenants in the conception of a new cluster
Dimos, C., Fai, F. M. & Tomlinson, P. R., 31 Dec 2021, In: Regional Studies. 55, 8, p. 1473-1486 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (SciVal)10 Downloads (Pure) -
The temporal effects of R&D subsidies on R&D, innovation and innovation behaviour: evidence from UK
Dimos, C., Fai, F. & Tomlinson, P. R., 1 Aug 2021, In: Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. 2021, 1, 200.Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review