Innovation-support organizations in the marine science and technology industry: The case of Quebec's coastal region in Canada

Abstract

This study examines the roles of innovation-support organizations in their acquisition and diffusion of technological ideas, solutions, and know-how throughout the marine science and technology innovation system. The research is based on a set of case studies that involved semi-structured interviews with directors and managers in three innovation-support organizations: Maritime Innovation (MI), the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Development of Ocean Mapping (ICDOM), and the Marine Biotechnology Research Centre (MBRC). Each of these organizations contributes not only to the development of the marine science and technology industry, but also to research and technology transfer in some of the key areas boasting the highest potential for technological commercialization and applications in the coastal region of Quebec. Central to this analysis is to show how these organizations operate and co-ordinate their activities, and how they formulate their technological and other standard services for the support of business development.