Technological innovation systems in contexts: Conceptualizing contextual structures and interaction dynamics

Abstract

This paper addresses interactions between technological innovation systems (TIS) and wider "context structures". While TIS studies have always considered various kinds of contextual influences, we suggest that the TIS framework can be further strengthened by a more elaborated conceptualization of TIS context structures and TIS-context interactions. For that purpose, we identify and discuss four especially important types of context structures: technological, sectoral, geographical and political. For each of these, we provide examples of different ways in which context structures can interact with a focal TIS and how our understanding of TIS dynamics is enhanced by considering them explicitly. Lessons for analysts are given and a research agenda is outlined.

Measuring the duration of formative phases for energy technologies

“…The sample comprised a set of complex, large-scale technologies, including nuclear power and jet aircraft, whose formative phases were compressed due to aggressive innovation efforts combining market-pull and technology-push under the extreme environment of WWII (Delina & Diesendorf, 2013). This reinforces the importance of understanding the role of contextual influences in TIS development (Bergek et al, 2015).…”

“…The potential to share structural elements with other innovation systems may also be more limited for technologies that are not ready substitutes. This constrains the positive externalities which enable more rapid innovation system development (Bergek et al, 2008b(Bergek et al, , 2015.…”

“…Experimentation and variety as an outcome of knowledge creation are decisive functions in the early years when a technology is surrounded by many uncertainties in terms of design, function and market demand (Kemp et al, 1998;Rosenberg, 1994). Interactions with established technologies and context can further influence the dynamics of growth (Bergek et al, 2015). Later on, resource mobilization and market formation become more influential functions as technology development shifts towards up-scaling and mass commercialization.…”

“…Second, formative phases are articulated in the technological innovation systems (TIS) literature, which explains the emergence and growth of an innovation system around a particular technology Bergek et al, 2015;Jacobsson and Bergek, 2012;Markard et al, 2012). During the formative phase, constitutive elements of a new innovation system are set up, and essential functions of the emerging innovation system begin influencing the technology's development (Bergek, 2008a;Hekkert et al, 2007).…”

The Political Economy of Clean Energy Transitions

“…The literature on national innovation systems suggests that the linear model of innovation provides an inadequate picture of how technology innovations emerge and become widespread (Bergek et al 2015). This particularly holds true for new renewable energy technologies.…”