Emerging Innovation Systems Research Articles

Breaking or making futures: How laws and regulations shape innovation in emerging innovation systems

Breaking or making futures: How laws and regulations shape innovation in emerging innovation systems

National Innovation System and an Approach to Innovation Activities at the Scale of an Economic Sector: Some Theoretical Foundations

Innovation is one of the important factors for rapid and sustainable economic and social development in an internationally competitive environment. Identifying and analyzing the national innovation system is a necessary need, moving towards building policy solutions to support Vietnam's national innovation system. However, at the scale and level of an economic industry, this connotation can and should be developed and applied according to the industry innovation system approach.
 Keywords: National innovation system, sectoral innovation system, emerging innovation system, fragmented (dual) innovation system.

From Silicon Valley to the Levant: Innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean

AbstractMarket economies in the eastern Mediterranean are not counted among ideal‐typical innovators. But this picture may be changing. This article explores the emerging innovation systems in the eastern Mediterranean by examining recent data and the literatures on varieties of capitalism and innovation systems. Through the cases of Cyprus, Israel, and Turkey, the study argues that the varieties of capitalism framework, by focusing on performance at the macro level, disregards the subnational performance of these outlier markets, which have promising regional or local innovation systems. Fostering cooperation among these emerging innovation systems could become a valuable instrument for overcoming deeply rooted conflicts in the eastern Mediterranean, which has turned into a “crisis zone” due to recent energy discoveries.

New business models for public innovation intermediaries supporting emerging innovation systems: The case of the Internet of Things

In several countries, governments have assigned to public innovation intermediaries (PIIs) the mandate to support the digital transition, by facilitating the development and adoption of new digital technologies on the part of firms and other organisations. This new mandate requires PIIs to upgrade their business models, moving beyond their traditional involvement in firms’ technology upgrading and university-industry knowledge transfer, toward supporting the creation of new innovation systems around the emerging digital technologies. To understand how PIIs are reconfiguring their business models to support the digital transition, we study four cases of PIIs operating in the United Kingdom and France, whose mandates include providing support for firms and other organisations in the implementation of new digital technologies, focusing in particular on the Internet of Things (IoT). We show that, despite their differences, all four PIIs have substantially reconfigured their business models in similar ways in order to fulfil these mandates. Both the formal legitimacy arising from their policy mandate, and the knowledge resources and informal legitimacy they have developed, have played a decisive role in their ability to orchestrate the development of innovation systems around IoT.

Mapping the emerging innovation system in the Indian ethnobotany genomics

ABSTRACT Ethnobotany genomics is gaining popularity, and there is a renewed interest in traditional medicine around the world. Ethnobotany genomics is proving useful not only for the conservation of biodiversity and agricultural productivity but also for drug discovery. In terms of traditional medicine and biodiversity, India is one of the world's richest countries. However, as industrialisation, population pressures, migrations, and urbanisation have increased, socio-environmental changes have become more dynamic and complex. This has raised concerns about sustainable production and consumption, as well as governance. As a result, the current paper is an attempt to map the emerging innovation system in Indian ethnobotany genomics. The paper examines the actors’, agencies’, and institutions’ responses to the emerging innovation system's requirements. Finally, this paper provides new insights into the opportunities and challenges of developing Indian ethnobotany genomics.

The New Whole State System: State-led Financialization, State-Private Fusion, and China’s Innovation Policies after 2008

This article joins ongoing efforts to reconceptualize the role of the state in capitalism through the experiences of China. Using tech companies owned by Tsinghua University as a case study, we offer a novel perspective on China’s post-2008 innovation system and the renewed significance of the state in economic restructuring. Drawing on existing research about the history of capitalism and China, we contextualize China’s innovation system within its own history of interacting with global capitalism and identify five distinct new features at the conjuncture of post-2008 macroeconomic and geopolitical transformation: mixed-ownership reform, Government Guided Investment Funds, local government financing platforms, transnational investments, and (re)consolidation of party-state leadership. These new features, we argue, are defining elements of the “new whole state system” (NWSS), an emerging innovation system that deploys new market-driven financial tools to reinvent China’s socialist “whole state system”. Through historically informed multilevel empirical research, this article problematizes the state-market dichotomy to show how the Chinese state has proactively cultivated, restructured, and participated in the market to promote indigenous innovation (i.e. innovation that depends on domestic research capacity). It also situates China’s post-2008 economic reform within the global financialization trend and presents the NWSS as a spatiotemporally specific response to the shared problems of technological dependency and slowing economic growth. China’s response offers important policy lessons for other countries about the possibilities and limitations of using financial tools to restructure market institutions and direct excess liquidity to promote indigenous innovation.

Enablers, Equippers, Shapers and Movers: A typology of innovation intermediaries' interventions and the development of an emergent innovation system

Innovation intermediaries are seen as crucial and critical players in the development of emergent high-tech sectors, though the understanding of their activities is not yet holistic and depends on geographical and sectoral specificities. This paper empirically deploys a recently developed classification within a case study of the New Space sector in Scotland, a previously peripheral region within Space Industry, now emerging as a global leader. Based on secondary document analysis and mixed-method empirical research using primary data from surveys, interviews and social network analysis, this study examines: the positioning of the innovation intermediation organisations in Scottish Space sector's innovation network and the interventions they deploy and effects they expect to have on the sectoral actors. Based on this analysis, a new typology of innovation intermediaries' interventions is proposed, to link them with their identified systemic roles of enablers, equippers, shapers and movers.

Collaborative innovation in emerging innovation systems: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe

Firms often lack competences and capabilities for creation and commercialization of innovations. The solution to this problem lies in sharing or acquisition of relevant resources through collaboration. The success of collaborative relationships depends on the type and the quality of partners involved and proximity between them. This is particularly true in emerging innovation systems of countries in transition from middle to high income levels. The objective of this paper is to explore whether collaboration with suppliers, customers, universities and research institutes and intra-group collaboration with partners of different origin in nine emerging innovation systems of Central and Eastern Europe facilitates commercialization of existing marginally modified, incrementally novel and radically novel products. Results of treatment analysis on a sample of over 10.000 firms from the Eurostat’s Community Innovation Survey reveal that domestic innovation competences and capabilities mostly fuel commercialization of existing products and that firms rely on a diverse network of collaborators. We find evidence of positive impact of collaboration on commercialization of existing products and to a lesser extent on incremental and radical innovations. Relevance of individual collaboration channels differs over countries. Among foreign partners, collaboration with entities from other European Union member states facilitates commercialization of existing products while partners from United States, China and India have positive effects on commercialization of incremental and radical innovations suggesting that cognitive proximity is more important than geographical, social, organizational and institutional proximities. Recommendations for formulation of innovation policies in emerging innovation systems are provided.

Building up a national network of applied R&D institutes in an emerging innovation system

Abstract Paper aims This paper aims at answering the research question “How to successfully build up and strategically manage a new network of applied R&D in Brazil?” Originality The paper is based on a unique experience of a strategic partnership, transferring the experiences of managing the largest network of applied research in Europe to the Brazilian National Innovation System (NIS). Research method The research described in this paper follows an action research approach, using a participative process of rapid prototyping, pilot tests and continuous revision and adaptation. Main findings The paper presents a comprehensive and consistent set of management models, procedures and tools for the planning, implementation and evaluation of applied R&D institutes. Implications for theory and practice The paper’s findings contribute to the empirical research on methodologies to manage knowledge-based networks and innovation actors at the interface between research and industry.

How Public R&D Support Affects Research Activity of Enterprises: Evidence from the Czech Republic

Public support for research and development (R&D) in business sector is usually justified by the argument about market failure. New knowledge produced by research and development has some features of public good, which causes underinvestment in private R&D activities. From the social development point of view, it is desirable to produce and diffuse new knowledge. The article seeks to answer the question what impact a change in the amount of public support for R&D has on research activities of private enterprises. This paper tries to bridge a gap in the literature dealing with impact of R&D policy in emerging innovation systems in Central Europe. Our research is carried out on the example of the Czech Republic and its regions. We evaluate direct and indirect R&D support in the period 2007–2015, and we pay attention to three variables representing R&D in businesses: business expenditures on R&D, number of R&D employees in businesses and number of R&D workplaces in businesses. We calculate year-on-year changes in all the observed variables, and the relation between the public support and research activities of enterprises is assessed through descriptive statistics, measures of association and regression models. Our analyses proved a positive impact of R&D support on companies’ own expenditures on R&D and the number of employees. The relation between R&D support and number of workplaces seems to be quite weak. The paper also discusses limitations of the research and implications for public policy.

The effect of public R&D subsidies on firms' competitiveness: Regional and sectoral specifics in emerging innovation systems

This article examines regional and sectoral impacts of R&D subsidies on firms in Czechia during the period 2007–2014. Driven by still-developing innovation policies where regional innovation systems are emerging, R&D support plays an important role for activating regional potential. To explore this we employed a geographical perspective and a combination of two counterfactual approaches. Our results revealed that R&D support has a higher net effect on companies operating in regions with lower R&D intensity. In the most advanced regions, the differences in effects between supported and unsupported entities are very small and targeted support no longer plays such a significant role. In contrast, indirect tax support associated with innovation activity is applied much more often. Furthermore, our case study in the South Moravian Region revealed that the impact of R&D support is changing over time and reflects from economic cycles. It has been confirmed that direct R&D support in this advanced regional innovation system is associated negatively with firms' competitiveness.

Innovation system foresight and systemic innovation for the overseas countries and territories

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe through innovation system foresight and systemic innovation approach to address key systemic issues of European Union (EU) Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) concerning the sustainable development and economic resilience: the authors highlight the need for a systemic approach to innovation policy for the sustainable islands’ growth.Design/methodology/approachThis research focuses on a multiple case study of selected OCTs, members of the Association of the OCTs. Specifically, this paper illustrates the foresight approach implemented in six OCTs in the context of the Territorial Strategies for Innovation project funded by the 10th European Development Fund.FindingsThe focus is on innovation system foresight and systemic innovation: the authors argue that key innovation elements of the individual OCTs can be used as crucial components of an emerging innovation system while this specific type of foresight can assist the governments of respective OCTs in the selection and design of specific instruments in relation to the formulation of their innovation strategies and policies.Originality/valueThis paper is based on work undertaken by the Territorial Strategies for Innovation project team during a three-year period dedicated to supporting the governments of OCTs both in defining and in implementing their innovation strategies. Its main contribution is to develop the concept of innovation system foresight and systemic innovation for the OCTs. The work presented here is considered to be of value by highlighting specific innovation elements for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in OCTs.

Technology users and standardization: Game changing strategies in the field of smart meter technology

Struggles over technology standards are typically reported for competing technology providers. Technology users often play not much of a role in standard development. This paper presents findings from the emerging innovation system of smart meter communication, in which large technology users act as standard developers. This phenomenon is relatively rare, as users often lack the resources and competences to actively engage in standard development. Over a period of 14years (2000–2013), we track how different standards emerged and changed, why and how users became standard sponsors, and what impact this had on the field. Our analysis is based on variety of data sources, including participatory observation and expert interviews. After an initial period, in which only proprietary standards were available, two large users started to develop open standards together with alliance partners and standard development organizations. Consequently, sponsors of proprietary standards change their strategies, also toward open, alliance-based standards. A central condition for this shift in standardization was that the two users controlled large shares of the market. Our research points to the conditions for user involvement in standardization, thereby contrasting three different settings for standard development. We interpret the case as an example for the larger issue of institutional structures in technological innovation systems developing over time in a patchwork-like way, thereby shaping and changing the conditions for strategic action.

Openness of innovation systems through global innovation networks: a comparative analysis of firms in developed and emerging economies

In the last decade, we have witnessed an unprecedented growth in the globalisation of innovation activities and more specifically, of global innovation networks (GINs) extending into middle-income countries. However, hitherto most of the literature is either theoretical or based on a handful of cases. We do not know what are the different forms of openness through networks in which firms participate whether in terms of the various degrees of global scope, innovativeness and network scope or other key characteristics. This exploratory paper provides empirical evidence of the different forms of openness through global innovation networks used by firms located in mature and emerging innovation systems. The paper relies on survey-based firm-level data collected in five European countries plus Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

Openness of innovation systems through global innovation networks: a comparative analysis of firms in developed and emerging economies

In the last decade, we have witnessed an unprecedented growth in the globalisation of innovation activities and more specifically, of global innovation networks (GINs) extending into middle-income countries. However, hitherto most of the literature is either theoretical or based on a handful of cases. We do not know what are the different forms of openness through networks in which firms participate whether in terms of the various degrees of global scope, innovativeness and network scope or other key characteristics. This exploratory paper provides empirical evidence of the different forms of openness through global innovation networks used by firms located in mature and emerging innovation systems. The paper relies on survey-based firm-level data collected in five European countries plus Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

Assessing the impact of public support for innovation in an emerging innovation system

In developing countries, most public programs supporting innovation are intended to enlarge firms' technological capabilities. Although these programs may induce firms to change their innovative behaviour, their effects have not been evaluated yet. This paper examines the impact of various innovation support programs upon firms' innovation inputs in the context of an emerging innovation system. Following Leuven and Oosterbeek (2008) in order to control for selection bias, we narrow down the comparison group by only taking into account the firms that applied to at least one program but were not accepted for any. Results show that only personal training and technology adoption and management programs contribute to an increase in R&D intensity, while personal training and export promotion programs increase innovation expenditures. These results suggest that in developing countries public support for innovation should be more concerned with competence building rather than with the exploitation of the existing innovation frontiers.

Assessing the impact of public support for innovation in an emerging innovation system

In developing countries, most public programs supporting innovation are intended to enlarge firms' technological capabilities. Although these programs may induce firms to change their innovative behaviour, their effects have not been evaluated yet. This paper examines the impact of various innovation support programs upon firms' innovation inputs in the context of an emerging innovation system. Following Leuven and Oosterbeek (2008) in order to control for selection bias, we narrow down the comparison group by only taking into account the firms that applied to at least one program but were not accepted for any. Results show that only personal training and technology adoption and management programs contribute to an increase in R&D intensity, while personal training and export promotion programs increase innovation expenditures. These results suggest that in developing countries public support for innovation should be more concerned with competence building rather than with the exploitation of the existing innovation frontiers.

Learning-by-importing in emerging innovation systems: evidence from Ecuador

ABSTRACTUsing data from the population of Ecuadorian importers, we examine the extent to which the characteristics of their imports relate to their labor productivity. Results indicate that the technological intensity of imports does not explain differences in labor productivity, although the region of origin of imports explains differences in the manufacturing sector, as imported technologies from advanced regions are associated with superior labor productivity. Nevertheless, as technology intensive imports are not associated with superior performance, we argue that importers from developing countries may use foreign technology inexpertly due to the lack of absorptive capacity and the emerging nature of their national innovation system.

Emerging innovation systems (eis): a new conceptual framework for analysing gcc and maghreb countries policies

Emerging innovation systems (eis): a new conceptual framework for analysing gcc and maghreb countries policies

Absorptive capacity and demand for innovation as driving engines for emerging innovation systems (eis): comparing gcc and maghreb countries

Absorptive capacity and demand for innovation as driving engines for emerging innovation systems (eis): comparing gcc and maghreb countries