Technological dynamics and policy : how to derive policy prescriptions

• The innovation literature acknowledges that innovation policy should be based on an analysis of underlying innovation system dynamics. Whereas policy prescriptions have been derived from analyses of the functional dynamics of emerging innovation systems in the ‘fluid’ phase of the technology life cycle and for the rejuvenation of path-dependent, mature innovation systems associated with a ‘specific’ phase of technology development, the role of policy in the “transitional” phase remains unclear. Through a discussion about the challenges associated with specific functions of a technological innovation system in the transitional phase, this paper identifies a number of potential system weaknesses specifically associated with this phase, for example demand-side path dependency, lack of informational increasing returns to adoption, imbalanced development of components and complementary technologies, lack of financial, physical and human resources and various forms of delegitimation. It also suggests that policy intervention might be justified to remedy these weaknesses, since many of them are out of reach of system actors. Other weaknesses can take too long time for system actors to handle, if a technological transformation is urgent from a societal perspective. Removing obstacles for mass market formation and stimulating system coordination should be a priority for policy aimed at the transitional phase. This would require policy to play the part as an innovation intermediary within the innovation system rather than as an external supplier of pushes and pulls. 

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business (hsv//eng)

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vet (ämneskategori)

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