The CatChain project is structured in the following Work Packages (WPs):
WP1: Catching Up Dynamic
Review of studies on Catching–Up between leader and follower countries; it focuses on the role played by one specific driver of Catching-up, which is the opening of windows of opportunities.
WP2: GVC: Analysis, Governance and Models
Map of the distributional outcomes in the value chain; understand how a chain allows local firms to strategically target the activities and relationships; to identify the type of existing governance structures and best practices; to identify factors that influence and trigger the upgrading of a value chain; to review the studies concerning BMs for entering, positioning, learning and upgrading in GVCs and then widening the existing models in an innovative manner.
WP3: Methods and Tools in GVC Analysis
To understand theoretical foundations and the main applications of the methodologies for mapping GVCs; to determine how firms, regions and countries are linked to the global economy; to clarify the different approaches in benchmarking production efficiency and the different methodological features of the indicators used to map and measure the value added.
WP4: Case Studies Country/Sector Specific
To develop new analytical models by specific country case studies; to design ad–hoc interventions that can strengthen their performance.
WP5: Models, Determinants and Policies for Catching-Up along the GVC
To understand how help ELICs in developing new areas of growth and SMEs in reaching a sufficient size to engage in international markets; to understand policy needs to respond to that new reality by helping promoting a business environment that facilitates creating economic and social development from GVC participation; to inform policymakers; to analyse countries’ value chain activity linked to growing sophistication and diversification of exports.
WP6: Training
Training activities in order to strengthen the expertise of ER and ESRs involved and improve their ability to achieve measurable and sustainable results.
As well as Dissemination-Outreach (WP7) and Coordination-Management (WP8).
During this first part of the Project, several activities and events have been carried out in order to achieve the established results.
After having identified researchers' needs, the First Training School for ESRs (D6.3) was organized in Bocconi, focused on Global Value Chains (theoretical concepts and empirical applications).
In addition, the First CatChain Conference on Micro-dynamics, Catching-Up and Global Value Chains was held in Bocconi.
In the first two years of the projects, 89 secondments have been implemented, for a total duration of over 162 person months, by 67 researchers from 12 countries, conducting research on the topic windows of opportunities and Global Value Chains (GVCs), among others.
The following scientific deliverables were carried out:
• D1.1 Catching Up among Firms, Industries and Countries: review of the methodological literature. In particular, the first part of the report surveys the growing empirical literature on catching up by discussing the main driving forces of catching up during the recent decades. Furthermore, it covers the methodological features of the indicators used to map and measure this phenomenon.
D1.2 Windows of Opportunities, GVC and Catching Up: set of model to study how the opening of windows of opportunities affects catching up through the restructuring of global value chains. Both the development of the models and their presentation in the project deliverable presented strong links with the case studies treated in D1.1. The reference literature consisted of the standard development literature as well as the dynamic models in the evolutionary and history–friendly tradition.
• D2.1 Research Report on “New paradigms BMs for SMEs for entering, learning and upgrading in GVCs in the era of 4IR”: literature review on methodologies and models for firms in upgrading in GVCs.
• D2.2 Dataset on “Global Trade Specialisation”: open access online dataset built data provided by Eurostat and other statistical offices, which will allow to update the tool on monthly / quarterly basis as new data will become available.
• D6.1 Synthesis of research needs: analysis of ERs’ and ESRs’ research skills and needs.
• D6.2 Training strategy: “best practice guide” on the specific training tools (TSs, TWSs) that will be implemented to address the research needs of the ERs’ and ESRs’.
• D6.3 Training School: the first Training School (TS), targeting ESRs of the network was organised in UB-ICRIOS in order to widen the knowledge of the activities, providing intensive training on the project’s topics.
• D7.5 Dataset on Stakeholder’s Community: stakeholders’ database for the dissemination of e-Newsletters and specific project-related communications, in order to reach all the relevant stakeholders, differentiated by the typology of the target.
