Global Knowledge Networks
Frank Giarratani and Thomas Murtha, Principal Investigators

In the 21st Century world economy, the economic fortunes of nations will increasingly rise or fall based on how and where firms build, access, and position themselves in global industry knowledge networks. It is now commonplace for firms to leverage low-cost inputs, skilled workforces and market opportunities wherever these arise by conducting different aspects of their manufacturing activities in multiple countries, often at world scale. As this process has evolved, however, business relationships also have evolved. Firms have begun to leverage concentrations of highly educated people and other country-specific advantages to do work that might have been unthinkable to source and coordinate outside of their home countries just a few years ago. With this change, production networks have been transformed, in effect, to knowledge networks. Recognizing the importance of knowledge networks in helping to determine the extent and shape of global linkages, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has supported a research network concerning this topic that draws participating faculty members from UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Davis, MIT, Minnesota, Stanford, and the University of Pittsburgh. Frank Giarratani and Thomas Murtha coordinate this network.

Return to the research page.