Professor Heidi Wiig holds a MA in Political Science with a major in International Political Economy from the University of Oslo, and a PhD in Economic Geography from Lund University, Sweden. Currently she holds the position as Associate Dean for BI's operations in China, with a special responsibility for the academic and pedagogical standard, the market relevance and delivery of the BI-Fudan program (Shanghai) and the BI-Tsinghua Educational Program for Entrepreneurs (Beijing).
She has for several years carried out research in the field of innovation studies and her core research competence is related to regional industrial development and studies of innovation dynamics in specific sectors. In recent years she has had a special emphasize on global innovation networks and structural determinants for such activity.
Wiig has carried out numerous research projects, including evaluations of public organizations and policy initiatives, leading to more than 40 reports, book chapters and articles. She has been leading, coordinating and taking part in several research projects financed by both national (Norwegian research council, Innovation Norway, different ministries and county councils) and international sources (EU, OECD), of which many include partners from the Norwegian as well as the international research milieus in the field.
Women in patriarchal societies face cultural barriers hindering them in pursuing entrepreneurship. For example, women are hindered by gender roles, male dominated networks and expectations that they take of the family. Recently, scholars have argued that digital technologies may provide women with avenues to bypass these barriers. Yet, there is little knowledge about how female entrepreneurs engage with digital tools, and how this may help them bypass gendered, cultural barriers. Using 18 interviews with female entrepreneurs in Beijing and Shanghai, we identify four affordances (virtual networking, online learning, opportunity creation and scaling-up) that women use to overcome the cultural barriers to entrepreneurship. We find that through engaging these affordances, the women feel empowered and able to challenge traditional structures. Our paper contributes to recent work in digital and women entrepreneurship as we unpack how women actively create affordances, such as female friendly communities, and how they skilfully use new digital technologies to try to disrupt traditional industries.
There is an increased need of understanding organizational and institutional underpinnings of firms’ global knowledge search. This paper addresses thick and diversified RIS in two different territorial contexts and explores firms’ use of physical and virtual space in their search of innovation relevant knowledge. Through interviews with ICT and new media SMEs from Scandinavia (Oslo, Malmö) and Beijing, findings show that low-cost and virtual search space is very important for innovation; furthermore, regional, global and virtual space co-evolve and mutually reinforce each other. Global search strategies differ between the two contexts, emphasizing the importance of a regional institutional-organizational framing supporting trust, collaboration and motivation for global search. In order to reap the benefits of the regional-global-virtual dynamics, being thick and diversified is not enough to have global reach and attractiveness
Aarset, Bernt; Carson, Siri Granum, Wiig, Heidi, Måren, Inger Elisabeth & Marks, Jessica (2020)
Lost in Translation? Multiple Discursive Strategies and the Interpretation of Sustainability in the Norwegian Salmon Farming Industry
Martin, Roman; Aslesen, Heidi, Grillitsch, Markus & Herstad, Sverre Johan (2018)
Regional innovation systems and global knowledge flows
Isaksen, Arne; Martin, Roman & Trippl, Michaela (red.). New Avenues for Regional Innovation Systems - Theoretical Advances, Empirical Cases and Policy Lessons
The literature on regional innovation systems emphasizes the role of the region as locus for interactive learning and knowledge exchange, stressing the importance of (geographical) proximity for innovation. Even though the importance of extra-regional knowledge is widely acknowledged, there has been only little emphasis on the particular role and the nature of global knowledge flows. The aim of this chapter is to explore the differentiated nature of global knowledge flows in regional innovation systems. We provide an overview of the different ways firms can gain access to global knowledge sources. Identified knowledge sourcing channels include international R&D collaborations, foreign direct investments, personally embedded relationships, international mobility of skilled labour, virtual communities and online platforms, and the participation in temporary clusters such as fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Depending on regional innovation system preconditions, firms use and combine different knowledge sourcing channels to access global knowledge. Firms in organisationally thick and diversified regional innovation systems have a geographical advantage in accessing knowledge globally, but even firms in peripheral areas can exchange knowledge worldwide, due to improved means of transport and communication at distance. Furthermore, not only multinational companies that are dominated by analytical or synthetic knowledge bases, but even small and medium sized enterprises in symbolic industries are often deeply involved in global knowledge sourcing activities. We illustrate our arguments with interview data collected among New Media firms in southern Sweden and in the Oslo Region in Norway.
Aslesen, Heidi & Pettersen, Inger Beate (2017)
Entrepreneurial firms in STI and DUI mode clusters: do they need differentiated cluster facilitation?
For more than two decades, cluster theory has served as a basis for widespread implementation of regional development policies in several countries. However, there are still persistent struggles in academia towards agreement on clear operational definitions of a cluster. In this article, we argue that this definitional haziness, reflected by difficulties in demarcating the scale and scope of clusters, leads to a stretching of the cluster concept when put into practice. We show how actors, through cluster projects, are utilizing strategies of “hubbing” and/or “blending” to develop their own understandings of both what clusters are and what they might or should be. Through studies of three Norwegian cluster projects, we argue that national cluster policies, through translation of an academically vague concept, facilitate a stretching of the original definition of clusters, giving regional stakeholders leeway to integrate other theoretical rationales instead. We argue that this is not taken into account in current policies.
Aslesen, Heidi & Isaksen, Arne (2016)
Clusters initiatives, open innovation and knowledge bases
Shearmur, Richard; Carrincazeaux, Christophe & Doloreux, David (red.). Handbook on the Geographies of Innovation
Aslesen, Heidi & Harirchi, Gouya (2015)
The effect of local and global linkages on the innovativeness in ICT SMEs: does location-specific context matter?
The article presents an analysis of a large-scale survey with the aim of understanding differences in the open, interactive and distributed nature of external innovation relations amongst firms belonging to different industrial knowledge bases. The thesis is that the source of critical innovation relevant knowledge differs between industrial knowledge bases, making the character and the need of openness contingent on these specificities. Accordingly, we anticipate that we will observe systematic variations in how industries access and combine innovation-related external knowledge. In our analyses we attempt to address a gap in the literature by examining how industrial knowledge bases affect the recombination of knowledge by analysing the different extents, forms (formal and informal) and geography of inbound open innovation. The article illustrates that features and structures of inbound open innovation align, to a large extent, with the industries' knowledge bases and that there is a interplay between an industry's knowledge base, the internal organisation of innovation processes and the channels and geography of inbound open innovation.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Isaksen, Arne & Karlsen, James Tommy (2012)
Modes of innovation and differentiated responses to globalisation - A case study of innovation modes in the Agder region, Norway
The main argument of this paper is that firms and industries are dominated by different innovation modes and that they therefore respond differently to challenges of globalisation. The paper differentiates between three modes: science, technology and innovation (STI), doing, using and interacting (DUI) application mode and the DUI technological mode. These innovation modes are based on different dominant knowledge bases, modes of learning and external knowledge. What is the implication of these differences with regard to competing in a global economy? Our empirical research shows that firms innovating according to the DUI application mode are in a position of negative lock-in due to severe competition from low-cost countries. The DUI technological mode firms are globally competitive due to a strong regional technological base built upon broad collaboration and a mixed innovation strategy. The STI firms are often part of international or national corporations, with a constant threat of being relocated to another country if they are not globally competitive.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2011)
Roles of KISA in aquaculture in Norway
Martinez-Fernandez, Cristina; Miles, Ian & Weyman, Tamara (red.). The knowledge economy at work: skills and innovation in knowledge intensive service activities
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Isaksen, Arne (2010)
Knowledge-Intensive Business Services as Knowledge Mediators in Different Regional Contexts: The Case of Norway
Doloreux, David (red.). Knowledge-Intensive Business Services : Geography and Innovation
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2009)
The Innovation system of Norwegian aquacultured salmonids
Fagerberg, Jan; Mowery, David & Verspagen, Hubertus (red.). Innovation, path dependency and policy. The Norwegian case
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2008)
Heterogeneity and knowledge-intensive business services in the city
Carayannis, Elias G.; Kaloudis, Aris & Mariussen, Åge (red.). Diversity in the Knowledge Economy and Society: Heterogeneity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2008)
Kunnskapsintensiv forretningsmessig tjenesteyting og storbyer - hva er sammenhengen?
Isaksen, A. A. Karlsen og B. Sæther (red), Innovasjoner i norske næringer - et geografisk perspektiv
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Jakobsen, S (2007)
The role of proximity and knowledge interaction between head offices and KIBS
Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 98(2), s. 188- 201.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2004)
Knowledge Intensive Business Services and Regional Development. Consultancy in city regions in Norway
Cooke, Philip & Piccaluga, Andrea (red.). Regional Economies as Knowledge Laboratories
Innovasjons- og næringslivsforskning ved et veiskille
Forskningspolitikk [Kronikk]
Aslesen, Heidi (2017)
Regional institutions and organizations and the interrelatedness with global knowledge exchange. The new media industry in Scandinavia and Beijing.
[Academic lecture]. IBEGIN CONFERENCE.
Aslesen, Heidi (2017)
“Dynamic knowledge linkages and extended innovation spaces”
[Academic lecture]. DRUID17 Annual conference.
Martin, Roman; Aslesen, Heidi, Grillitsch, Markus & Herstad, Sverre Johan (2017)
Regional innovation systems and global knowledge flows
[Report]. CIRCLE.
The literature on regional innovation systems emphasizes the role of the region as locus for interactive learning and knowledge exchange, stressing the importance of (geographical) proximity for innovation (Asheim and Gertler 2005). Even though the importance of extra-regional knowledge is widely acknowledged (Trippl et al. 2015), there has been only little emphasis on the particular role and the nature of global knowledge flows. The aim of this chapter is to explore the differentiated nature of global knowledge flows in regional innovation systems. We provide an overview of the different ways firms can gain access to global knowledge sources. Identified knowledge sourcing channels include international R&D collaborations, foreign direct investments, personally embedded relationships, international mobility of skilled labour, virtual communities and online platforms, and the participation in temporary clusters such as fairs, exhibitions, and conferences (Maskell et al. 2006, Aslesen and Sardo 2016). Depending on regional innovation system preconditions, firms use and combine different knowledge sourcing channels to access global knowledge. Firms in organisationally thick and diversified regional innovation systems have a geographical advantage in accessing knowledge globally, but even firms in peripheral areas can exchange knowledge worldwide, due to improved means of transport and communication at distance. Furthermore, not only multinational companies that are dominated by analytical or synthetic knowledge bases, but even small and medium sized enterprises in symbolic industries are often deeply involved in global knowledge sourcing activities. We illustrate our arguments with interview data collected among New Media firms in southern Sweden and in the Oslo Region in Norway
Aslesen, Heidi; Herstad, Sverre Johan, Grillitsch, Markus & Martin, Roman (2016)
Regional Innovation Systems and Global Flows of Knowledge
Encounters between cluster theory and practice: ‘Hubbing’, ‘blending’ and conceptual stretching
[Academic lecture]. RGS-IBG Annual International Conference.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Herstad, Sverre Johan (2013)
North-South dividing lines in the global innovation network linkages of ICTs” (revised version). Heidi Wiig Aslesen, Sverre Herstad
[Academic lecture]. Paper presented at AAG2013.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Herstad, Sverre Johan (2012)
North-South dividing lines in the global innovation network linkages of ICTs
[Academic lecture]. Globelics International Conference.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Iversen, Eric James (2012)
“Sectoral dynamics and global innovation networks in a North South perspective”
[Academic lecture]. American Association of Geographers - årlig konferanse.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Herstad, Sverre Johan (2012)
North-South dividing lines in the global innovation network linkages of ICTs
[Academic lecture]. 10th Globelics International Conference.
Børve, Brita; Aslesen, Heidi Wiig, Boge, Knut, Brøgger, Benedicte, Garnes, Åge, Lervik, Anne K. Eggen, Rønnevig, Elisabeth, Tolsby, June, Sethov, Ellen & Voll, Liv Oddrun (2012)
Rapport fra prosjektet Nettverksbygging, kompetanse- og studietilbudsutvikling innenfor innovasjon og entreprenørskap i Oslo-, Akershus- og Hedmarksregionen: NU E15
[Report]. Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus.
Onsager, Knut; Aslesen, Heidi, Gundersen, Frants Henrik, Isaksen, Arne & Langeland, Ove (2010)
"City regions, advantages and innovation"
[Report]. Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research.
The report forcuses on regional advantage and innovation, industrial development and challanges in a more knowledge based economy, and analyse empirically such properties in main types of small and large city regions in Norway.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Astroza, Alessandro & Gulbrandsen, Magnus (2009)
Multinational companies embedded in national innovation systems in developing countries: the case of Norwegian fish farming multinationals in Chile
[Academic lecture]. GLOBELICS 2009. 7th International conference.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Onsager, Knut (2009)
Knowledge bases, open innovation and city regions
[Academic lecture]. The DRUID Society Summer Conference.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2007)
The innovation system of Norwegian aquacultures salmonids
[Report]. Senter for innovasjon, teknologi og kultur TIK.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2004)
Knowledge intensive service activities and innovation in the Norwegian aquaculture industry: Part project report from the OECD KISA study
Effekter og effektivitet : effekter av statlig innsats for regional utvikling og distriktspolitiske mål : utredning fra Effektutvalget, oppnevnt ved kgl. res. 5. oktober 2001 : avgitt til Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet 29. januar 2004
Studie av innovasjonssystemer for marine innsatsvarer
[Report]. STEP-group.
Prosjektet ”Studie av innovasjonssystemer for marine innsatsvarer” er laget på oppdrag fra SND. Bakgrunnen for henvendelsen er at SND skal utarbeide en strategi for økt verdiskaping i marine næringer. SND vil i den anledning utarbeide delstrategier for 5 områder innenfor marine næringer. STEP-gruppen er bedt om å gjennomføre innovasjonsstudie innenfor ett av områdene, området ”Leveranse av innsatsfaktorer”.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Broch, Marianne, Koch, Per M. & Solum, Nils Henrik (2001)
Technopolis RCN Evaluation: User Oriented R&D in the Research Council of Norway
SIVA Internasjonal: Perifer regionalpolitikk. En evaluering av SIVAs internasjonale engasjement
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (2001)
Innovasjon i Sogn og Fjordane
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Fraas, Morten, Isaksen, Arne & Smith, Keith Harold (2000)
Evaluering av SIVA s.f.: Fra eiendomsforvalter til utviklingsaktør
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (1999)
Governance and the innovation system of the fish-processing industry in Northern Norway
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Braadland, Thor Egil, Ekeland, Anders & Ørstavik, Finn (1999)
Performance and cooperation in the Oslo region business sector
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Braadland, Thor Egil, Jensen, Louise Hvid, Isaksen, Arne & Ørstavik, Finn (1999)
Innovation, knowledge bases and clustering in selected industries in the Oslo region
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Braadland, Thor Egil, Smith, Keith Harold & Ørstavik, Finn (1999)
Economic activity and the knowledge infrastructure in the Oslo region
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Sigmund (1999)
Kjønn, entreprenørskap og foretaksutvikling - gjennomgang av teori og empiri
[Report]. Handelshøyskolen BI.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig; Grytli, Tori, Isaksen, Arne, Jordfald, Bård, Langeland, Ove & Spilling, Olav R (1998)
Struktur og dynamikk i kunnskapsbaserte næringer i Oslo
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Isaksen, Arne (1998)
Innovation in ultra-peripheral regions: The case of Finnmark and rural areas in Norway
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Isaksen, Arne; Karlsen, Eva Næss, Pedersen, Trond Einar, Smith, Keith Harold, Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Arnold, Erik (1996)
Evaluering av nyskapings- og teknologiprogrammet for Nord-Norge (NT-programmet)
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (1996)
An empirical study of the innovation system in Finnmark
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Wood, Michelle (1995)
What Comprises a Regional Innovation System? An Empirical Study
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Aslesen, Heidi Wiig & Ekeland, Anders (1994)
Forskermobilitet i instituttsektoren i 1992
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Denne undersøkelsen beskriver mobilitetsmønstre for forskere i instituttsektoren til og fra andre sektorer i samfunnet. Vi ser også på omfanget av innlån og utlån av forskere. Resultatene fra Norge blir sammenlignet med det vi har funnet av materiale fra andre land, hovedsakelig Sverige.
Ekeland, Anders & Aslesen, Heidi Wiig (1994)
Naturviternes kontakt med andre sektorer i samfunnet
[Report]. STEP-gruppen.
Academic Degrees
Year
Academic Department
Degree
2006
University of Lund
Ph.D Fil. Dr
1993
University of Oslo
Master Cand. Polit.
Work Experience
Year
Employer
Job Title
2021 - Present
Høyskolen Vestlandet
20% stilling på Mohn senteret. Høyskolen Vestlandet i tilknytning til NFR posjektet. Responsible Innovation in Fish Farming".
2020 - Present
Høyskolen på Vestlandet. Mohn senteret.
Professor
2018 - Present
BI Norwegian Business School
Associate Dean BI-Fudan MBA Programme
2011 - Present
BI Norwegian Business School
Professor
2008 - 2011
BI Norwegian Business School
Associate professor
2004 - 2008
NIFU STEP
Senior researcher, Leader of the the programme area Innovation studies
2003 - 2004
SINTEF STEP
Senior researcher, group leader, Innovation studies
1994 - 2003
Step-Group
Researcher
1991 - 1994
Norsk Regnesentral
Research Assistent
1990 - 1991
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations (UNCTC). New York