Summary
I am a Reader in the Economics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University. I am also director of IBERG, the International Business and Economics Research Group within the School. My teaching covers the broad areas of Economics, International Business, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. My research interests are: SME innovation, university-industry collaboration, local and regional economic development and international entrepreneurship. I have published my research in a wide range of leading journals including Regional Studies, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy, and Society, and Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and memeber of the Regional Studies Association. I completed my doctorate at the University of Sheffield (ESRC Case Award; Department of Town and Regional Planning 2001-2004). Prior to joining SHU I was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Sheffield (2006-2008) and University of Lincoln (2004-2006).
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About
Qualifications
- 2005: PhD Small firm innovation and regional economic development, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
- 2002: MA Economics, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
- 2000: BA Economics, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
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Teaching
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Publications
Journal articles
Johnston, A., & Wells, P. (2020). Assessing the Role of Universities in a Place-Based Industrial Strategy: Evidence from the UK. Local Economy. http://doi.org/10.1177/0269094220957977
Pham, H., Nguyen, A.N., & Johnston, A. (2020). Economic policies and technological development of Vietnam’s electronics industry. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy. http://doi.org/10.1080/13547860.2020.1809055
Johnston, A. (2020). Open innovation and the formation of university–industry links in the food manufacturing and technology sector: evidence from the UK. European Journal of Innovation Management. http://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-06-2019-0163
Johnston, A. (2019). The roles of universities in knowledge-based urban development: A critical review. International journal of knowledge-based development. http://doi.org/10.1504/IJKBD.2019.103205
Johnston, A., & Huggins, R. (2018). Partner selection and university-industry linkages: Assessing small firms' initial perceptions of the credibility of their partners. Technovation, 78, 15-26. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2018.02.005
Johnston, A., & Huggins, R. (2017). Regional growth dynamics in the service sector: The determinants of employment change in UK regions 1971-2005. Growth and Change. http://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12221
Johnston, A., & Huggins, R. (2016). The spatio-relational nature of urban innovation systems:Universities, knowledge intensive business service firms, and collaborative networks. Journal of Urban Technology, 23 (1), 29-52. http://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2015.1090192
Johnston, A., & Huggins, R. (2015). University-industry links and the determinants of their spatial scope : a study of the knowledge intensive business services sector. Papers in Regional Science, 96 (2), 247-260. http://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12185
Johnston, A., & Huggins, R. (2015). Drivers of university–industry links : the case of knowledge-intensive business service firms in rural locations. Regional Studies, 50 (8), 1330-1345. http://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2015.1009028
Huggins, R., Prokop, D., Steffenson, R., Johnston, A., & Clifton, N. (2014). The engagement of entrepreneurial firms with universities : network formation, innovation and resilience. Journal of General Management, 40 (1), 23-51. http://www.braybrooke.co.uk/jgm/
Huggins, R., Johnston, A., & Stride, C. (2012). Knowledge networks and universities : locational and organisational aspects of knowledge transfer interactions. Entrepreneurship and regional development, 24 (7-8), 475-502. http://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2011.618192
Huggins, R., Johnston, A., & Thompson, P. (2012). Network Capital, Social Capital and Knowledge Flow: How the Nature of Inter-organizational Networks Impacts on Innovation. Industry and Innovation, 19 (3), 203-232. http://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2012.669615
Huggins, R., & Johnston, A. (2012). Knowledge alliances and innovation performance: An empirical perspective on the role of network resources. International Journal of Technology Management, 57 (4), 245-265. http://doi.org/10.1504/IJTM.2012.045547
Johnston, A. (2011). The Economic Performance of UK Cities, 1995-2005: Driven by Knowledge-based Sectors or Consumption-based Sectors? European Planning Studies, 19 (12), 2095-2108. http://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2011.633821
Huggins, R., & Johnston, A. (2010). Knowledge flow across inter-firm networks: the influence of network resources, spatial proximity, and firm size. Entrepreneurship and regional development, 22 (5), 457-484. http://doi.org/10.1080/08985620903171350
Huggins, R., & Johnston, A. (2009). The economic and innovation contribution of universities: a regional perspective. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 27 (6), 1088-1106. http://doi.org/10.1068/c08125b
Huggins, R., & Johnston, A. (2009). Knowledge networks in an uncompetitive region: SME innovation and growth. Growth and Change, 40 (2), 227-259. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2257.2009.00474.x
Johnston, A. (2009). Which sectors are driving regional economic development? Comparing the effects of changes in employment in knowledge-based and consumption-based sectors on regional economic performance. Local Economy, 24 (2), 125-139. http://doi.org/10.1080/02690940902717113
Huggins, R., Johnston, A., & Steffenson, R. (2008). Universities, knowledge networks and regional policy. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 1 (2), 321-340. http://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsn013
Luo, S., Johnston, A., & Chen, D. (2008). Approach to delimiting metropolitan regions’ boundary and grading urban hierarchy within a metropolitan region—A case study of Shanghai metropolitan region. Chinese Geographical Science, 18 (3), 197-205. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-008-0197-z
Book chapters
Johnston, A., & Huggins, R. (2019). Networks, innovation systems and the geography of university–industry linkages: the case of knowledge-intensive business services. In Handbook of Universities and Regional Development. (pp. 210-229). Edward Elgar Publishing: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-universities-and-regional-development-9781784715700.html
Johnston, A., Lassalle, P., & Yamamura, S. (2018). Re-conceptualising entrepreneurial ecosystems: A theoretical exploration of evolution over space and time. In Geography, Open Innovation and Entrepreneurship. (pp. 221-235).
Lassalle, P., & Johnston, A. (2017). Where are the spiders? : proximities and access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem : the case of Polish migrant entrepreneurs in Glasgow. In O'Connor, A., Stam, E., Sussan, F., & Audretsch, D. (Eds.) Entrepreneurial ecosystems : place-based transformations and transitions. (pp. 131-152). Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63531-6
Johnston, A., & Huggins, R. (2016). Knowledge-based services and economic development: Contributions to growth and resilience in European regions. In Beerepoot, N., Lambregts, B., & Kleibert, J. (Eds.) Globalisation and services-driven economic growth : Perspectives from the Global North and South. (pp. 75-89). Abingdon: Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315585055
Johnston, A.R., Noke, H., & Radnor, Z. (2013). Entrepreneur or Entrepreneurship in Public Services? In Osborne, S.P., & Brown, L. (Eds.) Handbook Of Innovation In Public Services. (pp. 161-175). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/handbook-of-innovation-in-public-services
Atherton, A., & Johnston, A. (2008). Clusters formation from the 'bottom-up': A process perspective. In Handbook of Research on Cluster Theory. (pp. 93-113).
Theses / Dissertations
Anderson, A. (2018). International entrepreneurial capabilities:The role of networks in the small multinational enterprise. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Johnston, A. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00154
Parikh, V. (2018). An Exploration of Contact Centre Service Management Within a Service Science Context. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Johnston, A., & Richardson, H.
Maramwidze, E. (2015). The political challenges of foreign investments: insights from South Africa's banking sector. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Johnston, A., & Capik, P.
Presentations
Johnston, A., De Silva, R., & Sharpe, D. (2016). Value Diversity from Foreignness: How Transnational entrepreneurs adopt bi-focality to recognise institutional differences and identify voids.
Johnston, A., & Lassalle, P. (2016). International Entrepreneurship: An Ecosystem Approach.
Johnston, A., & Lassalle, P. (2016). Re-Conceptualizing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: A Theoretical Exploration.
Johnston, A., & Lassalle, P. (2015). Reframing the influences of Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs into a multilevel/-dimensional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Johnston, A. (2013). Knowledge Intensive Business Services, University Linkages and the Localisation of Collaboration.
Johnston, A. (2013). University Links with Knowledge Intensive Business Services: Explaining the Variation in the Spatial Nature of these Links.
Johnston, A. (2011). Examining the Interaction of Leadership and Culture in the Innovation Process in SMEs.
Johnston, A. (2011). The Evolution of Employment in KIBS Sectors: An Analysis of Rural Britain 1995-2005.
Johnston, A. (2010). Assessing the Applicability, Feasibility and Desirability of Public Sector Entrepreneurship.
Johnston, A. (2010). Creating and Developing Innovative Capacity in Small Firms: A Case Study.
Johnston, A. (2010). Economic Governance in an English City Region: Assessing the 'Democratic Deficit'.
Johnston, A. (2010). Network Behaviour and Regional Business Culture: An Empirical Analysis of Three Regions.
Johnston, A. (2010). Regional Economic Development in the UK: Assessing the Democratic Deficit.
Johnston, A. (2010). The Role of Public Sector Entrepreneurs in Promoting Local and Regional Economic Development.
Johnston, A. (2009). Local Economy, Local Democracy.
Johnston, A. (2009). The Knowledge Networks of Universities: Regional and Non-Regional Linkage.
Johnston, A. (2009). Doing' Regional Economic Development: The (Potential) Role of Public Sector Entrepreneurship in the Local and Regional Economic Development Process.
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Other activities
Competitve Research Award
- 2018: Principal Investigator, Welcome to Yorkshire, The Value of Tourism to Yorkshire, (£25,000), Welcome To Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- 2017: UK IT, UK IT, United Kingdom
- 2017: Principal Investigator, Welcome to Yorkshire, The Value of Tourism to Yorkshire, (£10000), Welcome To Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- 2016: BIS Small business data project, Department of Business Innovation and Skills, United Kingdom
- 2015: National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering (SHU/ACES), Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
- 2015: Sheffield Business School Pedagogic Innovation Fund, (£1920), Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
- 2015: ESRC Festival of Social Science, Sharing Sheffield Doctoral Research, (£685), ESRC Festival of Social Science, United Kingdom
- 2015: Co-investigator, The Moor Market, Sheffield First 1 Year of Trading Review for the Sheffield City Council (£5000), Sheffield City Council, United Kingdom
- 2014: Co-investigator, Impact of HS2 on Stoneleigh Park for ECUS Environmental Consultants (£7200), ECUS Consulting Ltd, United Kingdom
- 2014: Co-investigator, The Moor Market, Sheffield First 6 Months of Trading Review for the Sheffield City Council (£5000), Salford City Council, United Kingdom