Toward a new paradigm of technological innovation: convergence innovation

Abstract

This paper aims at creating knowledge value-added by exploring, and understanding knowledge about the causes, processes, and patterns of convergence innovation through a review of eight papers included in this issue. It argues that the process of convergence innovation is a continuous disequilibrium between reference technology and its matching technology, which adjusts optimal balance between the functions of the two technologies. The process of convergence innovation is also featured as a learning process that requires both vertical and horizontal convergence. Types of convergence innovation such as outsidein and inside-out, depending on market situation are discovered in some case explorations. Convergence innovation has been taking place mainly by applying IT technologies to vast areas of conventional technologies. This is because individuals or firms get benefit from the convergence between IT and conventional technologies. Such innovations made possible by convergence ultimately improve the welfare of human beings as companies can solve diverse problems or increase employment. Many examples are found in Asian industries, for instance, biochemical companies of Indonesia were able to increase their market shares in biofertilizer and biopesticide products through bio-based technological convergence. Textile machinery firms of Korea have survived by achieving convergence innovation on their core competences.

The Path to Innovation: The Antecedent Perspective of Intellectual Capital and Organizational Character

“…In the knowledge economy, many studies have demonstrated the relationship between intellectual capital and technological innovation (Subramaniam and Youndt, 2005; Delgado-Verde et al, 2016). It is believed that the interaction between technological innovation and knowledge production is a process of coupling (Leong et al, 2013; Lee, 2015). The accumulation of intellectual capital relies on knowledge production, while the former can also create conditions for technological innovation.…”

Diffusion, convergence and influence of pharmaceutical innovations: a comparative study of Chinese and U.S. patents

“…Technology convergence is such a convergence innovation that its process can be featured as a learning process that is a continuous disequilibrium between reference technology and its matching technology, which adjusts the optimal balance between the functions of the two technologies [ 42 – 44 ]. Currently, technology convergence-inducing innovations are a major driver of development [ 45 ].…”

“…Technology convergence is being witnessed in various sectors and most likely occurs in those areas that still have patentable inventions, such as the pharmaceutical industry [ 46 – 49 ]. Convergence and re-orientation processes within the pharmaceutical sector are actively progressing and embody many different types of novel combinations representing syntheses of therapeutic, diagnostic and digital information technologies, as well as new drug R&D, such as DNA diagnostics, neural computation, molecular electronics and bioinformatics [ 43 , 44 , 50 , 51 ]. Empirically, the network analysis perspective has been widely used to investigate technology convergence [ 12 , 42 , 49 , 52 – 59 ].…”

Eco-Innovation Paths: Convergence or Divergence?

“…Studies on divergence and convergence date back to the end of the 1970s when Kuhn (1977) focused on the law of scientific discovery and technological invention from the viewpoint of the essential pressure. Later on, the discussion moved to the issues relating to divergence and convergence: policy-making about the convergence of technology (Shin, 2010), strategic management of a transformation in a multi-technology project (Kotnour & Bollo, 2011), technological convergence as a facor that has an effect on the flow of knowledge between enterprises (Corredoira & Rosenkopf, 2010), the association which exists between network assets and market entrance in terms of convergence (Lee, 2007), or convergence as a new paradigm (Lee, 2015). Innovation convergence is a learning process that constitutes a continuous disequilibrium between the reference technology and its matching technology, which adjusts the optimal balance between the functions of the two technologies (Lee, 2015).…”

“…Primarily, technology convergence-inducing innovations are a significant driver of development (Jang, 2009;Lee, 2018). It is often assumed that such innovations eventually boost human well-being as firms address different problems or increase jobs by convergence innovation (Lee, 2015). From the perspective of eco-innovations, their convergence generates economic benefits, enables the economies of scales to be used, determines the performance of international trade, generates jobs.…”