PhD, researcher and member of the LEAP4D group.

My work is focused on issues related to ICT, networking and clusters and the effect on economic growth. I have a specific interest in cluster policies and the role of different stakeholders in clustering processes.

My primary project examines the role of clusters as frameworks and means for economic upgrading in the Latin American setting. The objective of the project is to study if cluster activities and policies can be beneficial for upgrading of firms in “clusters” and whether they can be conducive for innovativeness and competitiveness. Examples of best practises on regional economic upgrading that are relevant for Latin America will be gathered and put in a comprehensive context with conclusions of a more generic character.

The area of economic activity that will be explored is the value chain of the sugar industry and derivates, including activities such as, sugar cane growing, sugar milling, ethanol for fuel and consumption, but also machinery equipment and consultancy services. The two countries that are being compared are Brazil and Cuba, major global exporters of sugar products.

The project approach is a comparative, multi-stakeholder and multi-lateral method, where we engage with researchers, businesses and policymakers in the selected countries on both a national and regional level. This project is funded by Sarec.

ETNOS, a project that supports regional ethnic food producers is being carried out together with the south-Swedish clustering organisation Food Innovation at Frontiers. The project is creating a networking platform for ethnic food entrepreneurs and links them to research facilities and public support programs. The project is funded by Food Innovation at Frontiers and the Skåne County Administrative Board. http://www.innovationigransland.se/eng/section.asp?id=413

Sörvik,J. (2011), On the Effect of Institutional Arrangements for Innovation in Clusters, a comparative case study of the sugar clusters in Sao Paulo, the North East of Brazil and Cuba, Dissertation at the Research Policy Institute, Lund University

Sörvik, J. and Moodysson, J. (2010/Forthcoming), International Cluster Policy Learning: Experiences from the BSR Innonet PIC Pilot, Background Report to Vinnova.

Sörvik, J. with Brundeníus C. (2008), Clustering and Upgrading - a Case Study of the Sugar Inudstries in Brazil and Cuba, Paper presented at Globelics 6th International Conference 2008, 22 – 24 September, Mexico City

Sörvik, J. and Jacobsson, A. (2006), Enabling Trust in the Digital World, - the Market for Authentication in International Digital Transactions, IKED, Malmö.

Sörvik, J., and Ågren, J. (2005), Åskådare, Regissör eller Aktör? En studie av rollfördelningen mellan offentliga och andra aktörer i klusterutveckling. Nutek, Stockholm.

http://www.nutek.se/content/1/c4/27/81/%C5sk%E5dare,%20regiss%F6r%20eller%20akt%F6r.pdf

Anderson, T., Schwaag Serger, S., Sörvik, J. and Wise Hansson, E. (2004), The Cluster Policies Whitebook, IKED, Malmö. http://www.competitiveness.org/article/view/241/1/