Innovation Systems Perspective Research Articles

All for One and One for All: Dissecting PREMIERE’s Inclusive AKIS Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

Innovation is increasingly being considered a social process, more bottom-up and interactive, than top-down science to implementation. Projects funded at a European level under Cluster 6 of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, and EIP-AGRI Operational Groups at a national and regional level in each of the 27 EU Member States, reflect this by placing a greater focus on making the best use of different types of knowledge and complimentary expertise (practical, scientific, technical, organisational, etc.) through the Multi-actor Approach (MAA). A wealth of strategic management literature exists on good practice stakeholder engagement strategies which mobilise the necessary bidirectional and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange and idea generation required for successful co-innovation ecosystems. Its counterpart however, from an Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) perspective, is largely absent. This method article addresses this disparity and gap in literature by describing a 5-step AKIS Stakeholder Engagement Strategy developed by the PREMIERE Horizon Europe Project to help co-create an ‘enabling environment’ to foster and ‘speed up’ innovation, knowledge sharing and digitisation in agriculture, forestry and related sectors through mutually beneficial interactions between an extensive and diverse network of AKIS actors (e.g. researchers, advisors, agri-businesses, farmers) at EU, National and regional level. The inclusive nature of the multi-staged stakeholder engagement strategy outlined in this paper, inspired by strategic management literature, helps close the innovation gap between policy, research and practice through genuine multi-actor dialogue, holistic insights and feedback from project inception to completion, thereby helping to build trusting, meaningful and lasting relationships of mutual respect amongst relevant AKIS stakeholders, ranging from policy makers to harder to reach groups ‘on-the ground’, in place of mere, one-off consultations. The resultant knowledge exchange will significantly contribute to meeting objectives and targets set out in the European Green Deal, EU Climate Policy, Common Agricultural Policy and Farm to Fork Strategy.

Science and Technology Ventures in India: Integrating NIS, SSI and Ecosystem Perspectives

The study traces the emergence of science and technology ventures (STVs) in India through two systemic lenses—National Innovation System (NIS) perspective, which espouses a top-down, policy-driven approach to encourage STVs, and the ecosystem perspective, which highlights the role of independent organisations in nucleating STVs. Converging the NIS and ecosystem perspectives—at sectoral levels—is found to be germane for STV emergence. The sectoral systems of innovation (SSI) perspective is then advanced to emphasise how the integration of NIS and ecosystem approaches has enabled a thriving STV landscape in India. The case of biotech sector is discussed to illustrate the integration. Based on this analysis, the study advocates policy intervention at the sectoral level, and a thrust on firm-centric innovation as a complement to investments in fundamental research, to unleash a wave of STVs in the country.

Current and future roles of the automotive and ICT sectoral systems in autonomous driving - Using the innovation system approach to assess value chain transformation

In this paper, we assess the current and future roles of the automotive and the information and communication technology (ICT) sectoral systems in the provision of autonomous driving and draw conclusions on the potential configuration of the corresponding value chains. We approach the question of value chain transformation from an innovation system perspective, combining sectoral, national and technological perspectives on innovation systems. We introduce a supplementary function at the intersection of the sectoral and technological innovation systems that describes the interactions between the automotive and the ICT system. By choosing indicators that allow for the sectoral and national differentiation of activities, we are able to identify differences and similarities in engagement between the automotive and ICT sectors and countries. Furthermore, we find various and changing types of interactions and relationships, such as competition, cooperation or spill-over, between the sectoral systems. Our findings underline the relevance of contextual factors to the dynamics and design of innovation systems, based on which we propose an approach for integrating different perspectives into one study. We find the strength of the innovation system perspective in its structuring and holistic characteristics and demonstrate its applicability to the assessment of value chain transformation.

A system lock-in blocks the uptake of mixed sustainable Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil

Forest plantation areas across the globe are increasing in size and in 2019 Eucalyptus monocultures in Brazil covered 6.97 million hectares (0.8%). These monocultures hardly provide ecosystem services and do not support wildlife habitats. A transition towards more sustainable Eucalyptus plantations is urgently needed to support the provisioning of ecosystem services and conserve biodiversity. This transition requires the development of sustainable business models. We studied the upscaling of sustainable Eucalyptus plantation alternatives in Brazil, by analysing the potential barriers that need to be overcome using the Technological Innovation Systems perspective and semi-structured interviews of relevant stakeholders across the Eucalyptus value chain. Although the provisioning of ecosystem services is improved by alternative plantation management, we identified four blocking mechanisms that inhibit the functioning of the innovation system and as such hamper upscaling; 1) the productivist approach by incumbent actors on plantation management that is focussing only on short-term profit maximisation and results in a strong resistance to change current practices, 2) the weak societal and governmental vision that does not put sufficient pressure to change practices, 3) additional certification to support alternatives is in its infacy to develop niche markets which also hampers the development of financial support, and 4) failed demonstration projects in the past that have led to a lack of proof of concept for further experimentation and knowledge development. These barriers combined lead to a system lock-in, resistant to change and not capable for a diffusion of sustainable alternatives. We conclude that the directionality of a sustainability transformation should be enhanced by formulating long-term goals and strong commitment of public and private actors. We discuss how a mission oriented approach could foster such directionality for the urgently needed regime transformation in Eucalyptus paper and pulp production.

Towards a Mission-oriented Innovation Systems (MIS) approach, application for Dutch sustainable maritime shipping

This paper builds on the literature on mission-oriented innovation policy, governance, transition studies and innovation systems, and develops a structural-functional approach to formatively evaluate mission governance from a Mission-oriented Innovation Systems (MIS) perspective. Central to this MIS approach is the mission arena, a governance structure where actors formulate and govern the mission, by mobilizing and directing other, preexisting system components. Their goal is to meet the mission by developing and diffusing innovative mission solutions and destabilizing harmful practices. The MIS approach involves a problem-solutions diagnosis and an analysis of structural, functional, and systemic barriers. To provide formative mission governance recommendations, the systemic barriers are then contrasted with the mission arena’s governance tasks. To illustrate the value of the MIS approach, we use a case study of the Dutch mission for sustainable maritime shipping. This case study illustrates a mission arena striving to increase coherence amongst different innovation system structures in semblance of a MIS. The mission arena configuration of actors shaped the mission formulation and negotiated governance actions. Dominant industry networks negotiated green growth as problem direction and non-committal governance actions, which are likely ineffective for inherently transformative sustainability missions. The paper concludes by identifying directions for further developing the MIS approach and the mission arena concept.

Knowledge absorption pathways for eco-innovation: an empirical analysis of small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union

PurposeThis study contributes to the literature on eco-innovation (EI) and the circular economy (CE) by providing insights into the factors of external knowledge absorption that facilitate the adoption of a subset of EIss called proactive-EIs. Proactive-EIs involve collaborations among multiple stakeholders, the use of technical knowledge and a greater level of investment than other innovations. In this study, the environmental actions taken by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in resource-intensive sectors in the European Union (EU) were observed, and elements related to the national context were compared.Design/methodology/approachThe national innovation system (NIS) perspective was adopted using a multilevel framework to assess the determinants of proactive-EIs among SMEs in the EU. The framework involves three levels: micro- (environmental awareness), meso- (external collaboration and intra-industry agglomeration) and macro- (economic complexity, trade openness and government research and development [R&D]). The survey data of 6,188 SMEs in resource-intensive sectors were analysed using a binary logistic regression.FindingsThe results showed that public awareness, economic complexity and public sector R&D positively influenced SMEs' adoption of proactive-EIs, whereas external collaboration and sectoral agglomeration negatively influenced adoption.Originality/valueAmong the existing empirical studies on EI, areas related to external knowledge-based innovations and systematic assessments of heterogeneity among EU member states remain underexplored. This study contributed to the literature by assessing the conditions surrounding external knowledge absorption. The findings contribute to the green entrepreneurship literature in the context of developed economies and offer insights for managers and policymakers seeking to promote EIs.

The Role of Social Infrastructure in ICT Adoption Program: A Perspective from the Indonesian Regional Innovation System

Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption is nowadays regarded as an important program due to the fourth industrial revolution across the globe. In this study, we aimed to fill the literature gap by scrutinizing the role of social infrastructure in ICT adoption programs, which is still not much discussed. A perspective of regional innovation systems (RIS) was used because RIS key components resemble the concept of social infrastructure. We measured the implementation of the ICT adoption program in 19 cities in Indonesia by clustering them into two groups (strong and emerging innovators). To determine which social infrastructure indicators are most important in explaining the grouping, especially the strong one as the best practice, we additionally measured the F-test and t-test. The clustering results showed that cities in strong innovator clusters have homogeneously high performance in terms of the number of collaborations, local communities, and products that meet international standards. We suggest that such three indicators be taken into consideration in policymaking at the regional and national levels to improve the performance of the ICT adoption program.

English

Multi-stakeholder platforms facilitate interaction between stakeholders in the agricultural innovation system. A multi-stakeholder platform is essential to enhance the innovation of avocado value chain stakeholders and avocado planting as a climate-smart practice. Avocados can make a significant contribution to food security and nutrition. Research has shown that research on climate-smart agriculture mainly focuses on scientific and technological solutions, rather than attempting to comprehend the economic and social dimensions of this study. The study's goal was to identify the interactions between stakeholders in the avocado value chain. The data for this study were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions. The study employs the concept of an innovation systems perspective and investigates social network analysis in the context of stakeholders. Information sharing, roles and functions of stakeholders were used as proxies to denote communication. In this study, the multi-stakeholder platform's role in fostering a supportive forum was interpreted as access to information, knowledge, and resources. Findings indicate that smallholder farmers, support service providers and market stakeholders need to be strengthened and empowered to adopt and implement inclusive innovations. This was essential to ensure that stakeholders throughout the value chain had access to tools and resources to promote avocado yield for food, industry, and climate-smart practices. The study concludes that there are distinctions in the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the avocado innovation system. Farmers have been discovered to innovate using relevant expertise, even though they are primarily considered users of innovation. The study's recommendation is that smallholder farmers be empowered through capacity building to influence agricultural value chain development and environmental sustainability through information technology. Key words: Avocado value chain, Centrality measure, Domain, Linkages, Multi-stakeholder, Social networks

Innovation systems for controlled-environment food production in urban contexts: a dynamic case study analysis of combined plant, fish and insect production in Berlin

ABSTRACTProducing enough healthy food for a globally growing urban population within planetary boundaries requires more resource-efficient and localized food production systems. Controlled-environmental food production systems (CEFPS) are a widely discussed new approach for sustainable food production in urban contexts. However, little research has addressed innovation processes of CEFPS in urban or rural areas. This paper aims to address this research gap by adapting an innovation system perspective, developing a conceptual framework for ‘urban food production innovation systems’ (UFoPrInS) and applying it to a paradigmatic case study in Berlin. Based on a content analysis of the relevant literature and 23 semi-structured expert interviews, we analyse (a) the main characteristics and (b) the key elements of the UFoPrInS and their relationships during different stages of the innovation process. The case results show that UFoPrInS faces various challenges related to possible structural failures that can occur in infrastructure, interactions, capabilities of actors and institutions. The current institutional framework at EU and national level was seen as the major barrier to innovations. To support new food production innovations, a comprehensive regulatory framework for CEFPS is needed that considers in an integrated approach the specifics of (1) the highly-intensive production processes, (2) the diverse types of products and (3) the urban location.

Embracing the Non-Wood Forest Products Potential for Bioeconomy—Analysis of Innovation Cases across Europe

This article focuses on the potential role of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) which are so far largely neglected within forest-related bioeconomy research and policy. From an innovation system perspective, we look at the barriers for NWFPs development and propose how they can be supported. We analyse 20 innovation cases in Europe, based on the analysis of documents and semi-structured interviews with experts involved in the cases. Results show that there is no “one” innovation system supporting NWFPs, but support is given rather erratically through certain programmes from various sectoral or regional innovation systems (forestry, agriculture, nature conservation or rural or regional development). There is a pronounced neglection of the institutional system towards NWFPs, resulting in a lack of statistics, research, education and training programmes and focused support structures. However, our results show rich potential of NWFPs in the forest bioeconomy for private forest owners and producers. These activities can range from a collection of NWFPs for subsistence to collectively organized production relevant to rural areas. Most of these are product innovations, some are service or social innovations, while some combine different innovation types. From some successful examples we derive suggestions for how to improve innovation support structures.

Orang Asli Perceptions toward Income Increment Program in Perak, Malaysia

In Malaysia, one of the programs organized by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to reduce hardcore poverty rates among the indigenous community of Orang Asli is the Income Increment Program (IIP). To ensure the program implemented is beneficial and accepted, the community's perception of the program is important to study. This study aims to identify the perception of Orang Asli participants towards the IIP, as well as to identify the socioeconomic status of the respondents. A total of 110 Orang Asli who participated in the IIP in the state of Perak, Malaysia involved in this study. Respondents were selected through a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaires through a self-administered procedure with minimal monitoring by the researchers. The study showed that the majority of respondents work in agriculture and farming as their primary source of income while collecting forest produce and rubber tapping as part-time jobs. Vegetable, calamansi, and banana plantations, as well as cattle farming, tilapia farming, and stingless bee farming, are among the IIP projects undertaken by the Orang Asli community in the state of Perak. Overall, the study revealed that the majority of respondents had a positive perception of IIP in all dimensions tested namely the perception toward the IIP objectives, perception toward the role of JAKOA, and perception of the advantages of IIP. The positive perception of IIP is one of the key indicators that will influence the participants’ involvement with this program in the long run. Future recommendations for current agricultural extensions such as IIP capture the significant fundamentals of the innovation systems perspectives to develop new technologies for smallholders that help the growth of crop yields and complete household food security. Therefore, responsible parties such as JAKOA should continue to play their role in encouraging and supporting this community so that they continue to be motivated, and open toward innovation, and strive to improve their socioeconomic status and quality of life.

Exploring the Global Innovation Systems Perspective by Applying Openness Index to National Systems of Innovation

This paper raises the question of whether global innovation systems (GIS), the expanded networks of actors beyond national boundaries, could be a new sibling of innovation systems perspectives. We argue that in today’s globalized world, it is idoneous to analyze innovation activities in a global context rather than a national or regional one. To confirm this argument, first, previous research is reviewed to understand how the GIS perspective has emerged and what different aspects have enabled these discussions. Distinct gaps from a body of literature are identified, such as the lack of a united definition, leading causes, and empirical evidence of GIS. With this understanding of the GIS perspective’s background, this research aims to overcome the challenge of filling out these gaps using two-stage approaches. The first approach suggests three building blocks of the GIS perspective (global institutions, global actors and networks, and a global knowledge-base). Using the open innovation concept, the second approach measures the openness of national innovation systems (NIS) of the OECD DAC (Development Assistance Committee) member countries to represent the tangibility of the GIS perspective. The paper concludes that the GIS approach would provide us with a valuable viewpoint for analyzing current innovation activities in today’s globalized economy as the form of GIS perspective is observed when measured.

Knowledge evolution within human urine recycling technological innovation system (TIS): Focus on technologies for recovering plant-essential nutrients

Adopting urine-recycling technologies can support a transition to circular nutrient management systems. Although these technologies have been developed since the 1990s, their large-scale implementation remains limited. From a technological innovation system (TIS) perspective, “knowledge development and diffusion” is a critical function in the development phase. Yet, available methods in the literature to evaluate this function are not standardized. Hence, this study aims to fill this literature gap by developing a novel multi-criteria framework for evaluating knowledge functions. Several characteristics of emerging technologies are reflected in the criteria, including the rate of growth, novelty, diffusion, and relationship to incumbent systems. The knowledge base was measured by bibliometric analysis of publications obtained from comprehensive mapping. Results showed that the rate of publications and knowledge diffusion increased sharply in 2011–2021 compared to 1990–2010. However, the function still has insufficiency in some criteria. The lack of innovation in scientific research and the diversification of technologies were found to be impediments. The analysis also identified the lock-in of conventional technologies and centralized infrastructures in terms of publication dominance as another impediment. For the TIS to be legitimate and to grow, more pilot-scale implementations at a higher level are recommended to demonstrate that the technology works in practice.

Understanding the evolution of photovoltaic value chain from a global perspective: Based on the patent analysis

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is one of the optimal alternatives to solve the problem of traditional fuel shortage due to its clean and safe characteristics. However, the boundaries of PV national innovation systems are blurring, and the PV value chain is gradually modularized in the context of innovation and product globalization. The paper explores the spatiotemporal evolution of the PV value chain based on priority patent applications from a global perspective. Our findings highlight the global innovation activities in developing PV technology are uneven in the temporal dimension, and the center of PV technology innovation has experienced a rapid spatial shift in the context of globalization. Developing the PV technological components was initially concentrated in a few countries or regions and then showed a tendency for spatial dispersion. However, the development of PV technology concentrated again after the global financial crisis. Moreover, there are distinct comparative technology advantages and disadvantages of the PV technological components or trajectories across crucial countries or regions. Our findings contribute to a theoretical description of the spatiotemporal evolution of developing PV technology at a global level and help policy-makers or company managers better understand the evolution of the PV industrial value chain from the perspective of the global innovation system.

Forever niche: Why do organically bred vegetable varieties not diffuse?

While organic food increased its market share in conventional food retail, virtually all organic vegetables are still conventionally bred. For decades, organically bred vegetable varieties remained a market niche, despite their socio-ecological benefits. This paper conceptualizes actors and activities around organic breeding as a Technological Innovation System (TIS) and analyzes what prevents these varieties from widely diffusing into conventional supermarkets. Investigated systemic barriers relate to knowledge, market formation, investments, and legitimacy. The study is based on interviews with food retailers and (commons-based) breeding initiatives across Germany. Theoretically, the paper adds an innovation system perspective on the diffusion of organically bred varieties, a blind spot in the emerging seed commons debate. Furthermore, it contributes to sustainability transitions literature by introducing a novel empirical topic and reframing the TIS framework to analyze agri-food innovations. Identifying barriers and vicious cycles might support practitioners and policymakers seeking to diffuse this agri-food niche.

Transition pathways, transition failure, and sustainable transition in developing countries: Insights from wind turbines in Iran

This study aims to investigate transition pathways, identify transition failures and propose policy solutions based on functions of technological innovation system (TIS) to overcome transition failures in the wind turbine industry in Iran. To this end, this paper employs a qualitative approach and case study research strategy. In this regard, the historical evolution of the wind turbines in Iran from 1988 to 2020 is investigated through the lens of sustainable transitions pathways, the integrated theoretical framework (combination of technological innovation system and multi-level perspective) with identifying a kind of pathway in each. Then, the reasons for the transition failure in each stage are extracted by employing a transition failure theoretical framework. Finally, to address the transition failures, appropriate policy solutions are proposed based on each function of the technological innovation system (TIS) theory. This paper contributes to the literature of sustainability transition by shedding light on the evolution of a renewable energy sector in a developing country with huge underground oil and gas reserves.

New regional industrial path development and innovation networks in times of economic crisis

ABSTRACT This paper presents novel research on how exogenous shocks and economic crises affect innovation, knowledge networks, and new path development in regions. Conceptually, we take a regional innovation systems perspective which views new path development as the outcome of innovation and knowledge exchange between firms and other actors, facilitated by a common institutional framework. Empirically, we draw on interviews and network data from the oil and gas industry in southern Norway. Following a long period of prosperity, the industry was hit by the oil price shock in 2014 and entered an economic crisis. The findings suggest that the shock triggered the firms to commit even more forcefully to innovation and to expand their knowledge networks geographically. To cope with the crisis, they applied a variety of strategies, which can be associated with different forms of path development. We draw conclusions for innovation policy in the context of exogenous shocks and crises.

The role of culture on pest management innovation; a comparative analysis of two farmer communities in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT The Agricultural Innovation System perspective highlights the importance of interaction for learning and innovation, but so far little research is done on the cultural differences of farmers and the effect this has on interaction, knowledge sharing and innovation. We took a cultural perspective to better understand local interaction, knowledge sharing and learning dynamics, and uptake of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Bangladesh where the Department of Agricultural Extension organizes Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for IPM. However, the success of the FFS approach at farmer level is quite diverse. We coupled an ethnographic study with an analysis, based on Cultural Theory, to identify the cultural pattern of behaviour, underlying preferences of social organization, and the effect this has on pest management innovation in two farmer communities. Findings showed that in one village with strong group solidarity, farmers tended to share knowledge in a wide network, and started to apply IPM while reducing pesticide use. In the other community, individualism and fatalism prevailed and farmers only shared knowledge within their close network, distrusted outsiders and continued to rely on pesticides. We conclude that it is important to include cultural studies in cross-disciplinary research and design of local innovation interventions.

The farm to fork strategy and the digital transformation of the agrifood sector—An assessment from the perspective of innovation systems

AbstractThe article assesses the European Union's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy from the perspective of innovation systems, focusing on digital technologies in agriculture. It employs the Technical Innovation Systems framework to analyze how the policies proposed in the F2F strategy affect essential functions of the innovation system. The analysis shows that the F2F strategy significantly contributes to innovation system performance by providing a clear and coherent agenda and various concrete measures designed to support innovation, knowledge and skill development. However, the strategy falls short in creating favorable market conditions for innovative technologies and building legitimacy with farmers as the most important user group.

An actor-oriented perspective on innovation systems: Functional analysis of drivers and barriers to innovation and technology adoption in the mining sector

Technology developers are key actors in an innovation system. Applying the technological innovation systems perspective as an analytical framework, our study unpacks drivers and barriers to technology development, adoption and diffusion in an innovation system and relates these to firm-level innovation processes. We approach this by situating our enquiry at the intersection of system- and firm-level perspectives. Based on case study data, our research highlights drivers and barriers prevailing in the mining innovation system affecting technology developers and establishes links to key innovation processes relevant to these firms. We complement these findings with insights into strategies firms employ to mitigate or overcome barriers identified, with the potential to positively affect innovation processes at the firm level. We argue that enablers and barriers to innovation encountered by firms have their effect by affording or impeding opportunities for firms to undertake the innovation processes required to attain technological innovation outcomes.