Functions of innovation systems: A new approach for analysing technological change

The central idea of this paper is that innovation systems are a very important determinant of technological change. We describe that the emergence of a new innovation system and changes in existing innovation systems co-evolve with the process of technological change. Therefore, it is necessary to create more insight in the dynamics of innovation systems. Traditional methods of innovation system analysis that mainly focus on the structure of innovation systems have proven to be insufficient. Therefore, we propose a framework that focuses on a number of processes that are highly important for well performing innovation systems. These processes are labeled as ‘functions of innovation systems’. After explaining this framework and embedding it in existing literature, we propose a method for systematically mapping those processes taking place in innovation systems and resulting in technological change. This method can be characterized as a process analysis or history event analysis. Clarifying examples are taken from the empirical field of Sustainable Technology Development.     

Functions of innovation systems as a framework to understand sustainable technological change: Empirical evidence for earlier claims

Understanding the emergence of innovation systems is recently put central in research analysing the process of technological change. Especially the key activities that are important for the build up of an innovation system receive much attention. These are labelled ‘functions of innovation systems’. This paper builds on five empirical studies, related to renewable energy technologies, to test whether the functions of innovation systems framework is a valid framework to analyse processes of technological change. We test the claim that a specific set of functions is suitable. We also test the claim made in previous publications that the interactions between system functions accelerate innovation system emergence and growth. Both claims are confirmed.     

Interaction patterns of systemic problems in distributed energy technology diffusion: a case study of photovoltaics in the Western Cape province of South Africa

ABSTRACT

Compared to large-scale renewable energy systems, distributed systems have diffused relatively slowly in recent years, particularly in developing countries. In this study, we analysed the barriers to the diffusion of distributed photovoltaics in South Africa by applying the technological innovation system framework. More specifically, we carried out an interview-based structural-functional analysis to identify underlying systemic problems, reveal their patterns of interaction, and analyse the implications of these patterns for the relationship among the key processes within the innovation system, the so-called system functions. We identified a variety of interlinked problems, shed light on the specific roles of different, mal-performing, system functions, and revealed constellations where specific functions blocked each other and, thereby, created lock-in situations. Although the findings reveal the complexity of the problems that are associated with the implementation of distributed energy technologies, they also indicate that these problems may be addressed successfully.     

Technological innovation and diffusion of wind power in Japan

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the diffusion of wind power in Japan by focusing on the value chain and the interaction between technology and markets and to contribute towards recommendations on technology policy and management. This paper proposes a framework for analyzing the early stage diffusion of wind power systems by combining the use of several approaches considering wind power system as a complex technological system. Firstly, the business system approach is used as an analytical framework by focusing on efficiency, effectiveness and development criteria. As a second approach, the technological trajectory was analyzed based on the concept of technological disequilibrium and the evolutionary patterns of innovation of wind power generation systems were analyzed and the relationship between innovations at the sub-system, modular, and system level was identified. We apply the framework to investigate why wind power diffusion has not picked up momentum in Japan.The results include the following: (1) Technological imbalances within the product system were solved by technological innovation (2) The wind power business in Japan is insufficiently effective due to organizational disequilibrium (3) The technology system has begun to evolve in the direction of micro grid systems. (4) It is important to consider the demand-pull measures for wind power generation so that Japanese institution can have a “time slot” for ”learning by doing” to catch up and accelerate diffusion of wind power generation, including institutional reform of RPS law. Also further technological development related to stabilizing unstable wind energy is required.     

Modeling technological innovation risks of an entrepreneurial team using system dynamics: An agent-based perspective

Continuous technological innovation has been playing a vital role in ensuring the survival and development of an enterprise in today's economy. This paper studies the problem of technological innovation risk-based decision-making from an entrepreneurial team point of view. We identify the differences between this team decision-making and a traditional individual decision-making problem, where decisions are mainly affected by the decision-maker's risk and value perceptions, and risk preferences. We create a modeling framework for such a new problem, and use system dynamics theory to model it from the agent-based modeling perspective. The proposed approach is validated by a case study of the technological innovation risk decision-making in a Chinese automobile company.     

Technological start-ups in the innovation system: an actor-oriented perspective

The functional approach of the Technological Innovation System (TIS) has become important in innovation theory to understand the dynamics of technological innovations. Until now, TIS has mainly been applied top-down from a policy perspective. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TIS can be used in the management domain, from an actor-oriented perspective, to explain the dynamics in which technological start-ups are involved when developing innovations. We interviewed the founders of 24 technological start-ups about their experiences with the developmental processes of their innovations. Our results highlight that the functions of TIS provide a useful framework to structure the interactions of technological start-ups. Especially the functions ‘Resource Mobilisation’ and ‘Legitimation’ appeared to be important functions for start-ups when developing an innovation. Our findings show that TIS is a promising framework for the strategic management domain that can offer guidance in the development of innovations.     

科技体制改革对省级创新体系绩效的影响——基于2011—2019年省际面板数据

2015年我国开启深化科技体制改革,关于这种实验主义创新治理能否转化为实际治理效能,其对中国特色创新体系建设的推动效果如何,目前鲜有文献从实证角度进行研究。基于2011—2019年我国内地31个省（市区）面板数据,运用分组分析法考察科技体制改革实施效果。研究结果表明：科技体制改革对知识创新体系中高校与研发机构相互提升的促进作用显著;科技体制改革强化了企业技术创新需求对高校、研发机构等知识创新体系创新绩效提升的拉动作用;高校和研发机构等知识创新体系主体供给侧投入增加,未对企业新产品销售收入产生促进作用;高校、研发机构基础研究经费投入的边际产出低于企业。     

Sectoral systems of environmental innovation: An application to the French automotive industry

This article seeks to show how a sectoral system approach may contribute to the analysis of the determinants of environmental innovations. By using Malerba's [F. Malerba: Sectoral systems of innovation and production, Res. Policy Vol. 102, 845-859, (2002)] concept of sectoral system of innovation and production, we develop a sectoral framework based on three building blocks: technological regimes, demand conditions and environmental and innovation policy. Within this framework, the sectoral patterns of environmental innovation result from the interplay between these three blocks. The conceptual framework is applied to the case of the French automotive industry, with a specific focus on the development of low emission vehicles. The analysis shows how technological regime and demand conditions lead to technological inertia, and so to a strong persistence of the dominant design. Finally, environmental and innovative policy are considered in an integrated way, so that we can study how they influence technological regime and demand conditions, and in the meantime how they are conditioned by these two blocks.     

企业技术创新的法律战略研究

结合、运用法律制度，对企业技术创新运行过程中的原创性技术创新、二次技术创新、营销性技术创新和战略性技术创新分别进行了探讨和研究。认为企业应当结合和运用具体的法律制度，依法促进和保障其不断进行技术创新。     

银行主导型金融对制造业企业技术进步的影响——基于技术距离的视角

制造业企业的技术发展离不开适宜类型的金融支持。那么,我国以商业银行为主导的金融体系对其具有怎样的影响？本文从技术距离视角出发,通过构建熊彼特内生增长模型探究银行主导型金融体系对制造业企业技术进步的影响效应及作用机理,并运用中国工业企业数据库与城市数据库的匹配数据进行实证检验。研究发现：当制造业企业远离技术前沿时,银行主导型金融对其技术进步具有明显的促进作用,但随着企业接近技术前沿,该作用将由正转负。相较于国有和抵押资产丰富的制造业企业,银行主导型金融对技术进步的负向作用在非国有和抵押资产匮乏企业中出现较早。机制检验表明,在远离技术前沿阶段,银行主导型金融能够激励制造业企业创新从而促进其技术进步,但在接近技术前沿后,银行主导型金融难以通过激励企业创新驱动其技术进步。研究结论对如何深化金融供给侧结构性改革、增强金融服务制造业之功效具有一定的指导意义。     

Localized technological change and factor markets: constraints and inducements to innovation

The recent advances in the economics of innovation and the analysis of how composition effects influence the introduction of technological change in a global economy, characterized by the variety of production functions in use and different local factor markets, provide new strength to the induced innovation approach. Developing the localized technological change approach, it is argued that because there are irreversibilities, limited knowledge and local learning, the introduction of new technologies is induced by the disequilibrium conditions brought about in each system by all changes in relative factor prices. The direction of technological change in terms of its specific form of bias and how it is introduced and adopted, however, reflects the specific conditions of local factor markets. Well-defined long-term technological paths emerge in each region and they depend on the selection process in product markets. The more rigid and idiosyncratic, the endowment of production factors and the system of relative prices are, the more specific the technological path of each region is likely to be. The divide between the microeconomic and the macroeconomic models of induced technological change is reconciled.     

创新系统范式的古典解释与最新进展

随着技术创新理论和管理实践的进一步发展,系统论和复杂网络科学赋予＂创新＂以新的内涵,创新理论研究已不再局限于熊彼特理论的传统线性范式,创新系统范式愈来愈受到专家学者的认可和重视,标志着创新系统理论的成熟与发展。以创新系统的演化过程为依据,创新系统范式依次经历了一个从宏观到微观、微观到中观、最后至一体化的过程。本文运用技术创新的系统范式理论和方法,对20世纪70年代以来国外技术创新理论研究成果进行梳理和分析,探析技术创新系统的演化过程,剖析国家、区域和产业层面技术创新的内涵、本质及其演进路径;结合20世纪90年代以来世界科技革命和知识经济的创新实践,深入阐释不同创新体系或网络的结构、要素、功能及动力机制,并重点分析了当代创新系统范式研究中复杂网络和小世界模型的作用机制,提出创新系统范式研究的发展趋势及对我国创新型国家建设的启示。     

Sharing a common resource in a sustainable development context: The case of a wood innovation system

This case study of the Aquitaine wood filière emphasizes the need to integrate a stronger consideration of natural resources in the analysis of innovation systems. The analysis focuses on eight eco-innovation projects representing the Aquitaine wood filière, and carried out under the aegis of the Industries and Maritime Pine of the Future ‘competitiveness cluster.’ We show that dependence on the wood natural resource can configure the limits, objectives and expected performance of such innovation systems. While previous approaches have considered similar innovation systems from territorial, sectoral or technological perspectives, we argue that centering the analysis on this natural resource better enables consideration of the technological and environmental tensions and risks that are likely to destabilize the system.     

Joint Management of Emission Abatement and Technological Innovation for Stock Externalities

We investigate how emission abatement and technological innovation provide different solutions to reduce pollutant emissions. In the case of a stock externality emission abatement leads to a smooth and continuous adjustment of emissions. Conversely, technological innovation has to be interpreted as an option on a less polluted environment and can justify the use of a pollution threshold above which it is optimal to start a research and development programme for a less polluting technology. It is shown that technological innovation interferes with the traditional emission abatement approach. The optimal abatement level is logically lowered once the less polluting technology is available; nevertheless a temporary increase in emissions is optimal during the research and development period. The usual Pigouvian tax system proves to remain an efficient corrective instrument. A numerical application to the Greenhouse effect is provided.     

开放式创新视角下区域创新系统演化路径分析

从区域角度分析技术创新与经济发展已成为重要的研究课题,构建、发展和完善区域创新系统对提升我国创新能力、促进区域经济发展、实现中华民族伟大复兴的“中国梦”具有重要意义。以区域创新系统为研究对象,将开放式创新理念引入区域创新系统,从开放式创新角度对区域创新系统的演化动力、演化路径、演化特征和演化意义进行研究。在此基础上,利用DEA方法对我国区域创新系统效率进行评价,对我国各区域创新系统所处演化阶段进行分析,并据此提出对策建议。     

Patterns of expectations for emerging sustainable technologies

Innovation is characterized by uncertainties, high risks, large investments and late returns on investment which make it a complex process. This is particularly true for sustainable innovation where market forces alone cannot be relied upon to realize the desired transitions. Insight in the dynamics of such innovation processes is necessary in order to influence technological change toward a more sustainable direction. However, few instruments and indicators are available to assess the performance of emerging technological innovation systems. In this phase competition often takes place based on expectations rather than on technological performance. This paper therefore focuses on the expectation patterns of technological innovation systems in the exploratory phase through the analysis of the expectation dynamics of three emerging technologies in the field of sustainable mobility within the Netherlands: biofuels, hydrogen as a transport fuel and natural gas as a transport fuel. These technologies do not only compete with the current fossil-fuel based system but also with each other. We have collected over 5000 expectation events regarding these technologies for the period 2000–2008 and discuss the insights generated by the comparison of the observed expectation dynamics to theoretical patterns.     

DEA方法在我国工业部分产业技术创新效率评价中的应用

技术进步是产业发展的最主要因素,而产业的技术创新是推动技术进步主要动力,于是在促进产业发展的同时要不断地进行技术创新。然而在进行技术创新的同时我们必须考虑技术创新的效率问题,本文通过数据包络(DEA)的方法对我国29个工业产业的技术创新效率进行了评价,并且从DEA有效性,规模收益情况和投入产出冗余三个方面做了分析。结果表明,我国工业产业技术创新效率普遍较低,规模收益状况不理想,投入冗余较多。     

产业技术创新战略联盟民事主体地位研究

产业技术创新战略联盟对我国创新驱动发展战略实施和创新型国家建设具有重要作用,其所面临的法律主体资格不明问题,已成为制约其发展的重要因素。目前,我国大多数产业技术创新战略联盟没有民事主体资格,不能以合法身份承接政府重大科研项目,也不能以联盟名义签订合同,其身份地位与其所承载的重要功能不相匹配。通过界定产业技术创新战略联盟概念,分析其法律现状和实践中所呈现的社团法人、民办非企业法人、备案制等存在形态,提出赋予产业技术创新战略联盟非法人组织民事主体地位、破除其承接政府服务职能和产学研合作项目的“身份”不明问题等法律对策。     

环境规制工具对环境友好型技术创新的区域性影响——以氢燃料电池技术为例

为了明确不同类型环境规制工具是否以及如何影响环境友好型技术创新，从而为环境规制政策制定提供有力依据，以氢燃料电池技术为例，基于中国2004—2017年省际面板数据，采用Sys GMM法进行实证检验，在此基础上，利用SPSS软件进一步将全国样本分为环境友好型技术创新高水平地区、中等水平地区以及低水平地区，检验环境规制工具影响环境友好型技术创新的区域性差异。结果显示，3种环境规制工具对环境友好型技术创新呈现出显著正向影响，且在环境友好型技术创新高水平地区，市场激励型和公众参与型环境规制工具的正向促进效应显著，但命令控制型环境规制工具并未对环境友好型技术创新形成有效激励；在环境友好型技术创新中等水平地区，市场激励型环境规制工具对环境友好型技术创新的负向影响显著，其余两种规制工具的激励效应不显著；在环境友好型技术创新低水平地区，仅有命令控制型环境规制工具显著影响环境友好型技术创新且表现为负向作用。     

LEGAL INSTITUTIONS,INNOVATION, AND GROWTH

We analyze the relationship between legal institutions, innovation, and growth. We compare a rigid legal system (the law is set before the technological innovation) and a flexible one (the law is set after observing the new technology). The flexible system dominates in terms of welfare, amount of innovation, and output growth at intermediate stages of technological development—periods when legal change is needed. The rigid system is preferable at early stages of technological development, when commitment problems are severe. For mature technologies, the two legal systems are equivalent. We find that rigid legal systems may induce excessive R&D investment.