A Conceptual Model for Innovation Research in the Bio-economy

Van Lancker J., Viaene J., Hanseeuw E., Kips L. and Mondelaers K.

20.06.2013

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Content

1. Contextual factors2. Innovation research and development3. Conceptual model for innovation research4. Empirical cases5. Discussion

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1. Contextual factors

• Influenced by different pressures, the economy based largely on petroleum is transitioning towards a diverse economy with renewable biomass as an important feedstock for both fuel and chemical production.

• To realize this transition, incremental innovations alone will not suffice. More radical innovations are crucial for a successful transition to a more sustainable system.

• The necessary applied innovation research is complex and will have to be organized on the interface of different disciplines.

• But the classic research models usually follow a linear process and are often restricted to a single discipline.

• To circumvent the barriers biotechnological inventions face and to identify the underlying bottlenecks, methodologically innovative research approaches are needed.

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2. Innovation research and development

• Currently, most agricultural innovation researchers use a linear model of knowledge creation and transfer of technology.

• The results are techno-scientifically sound inventions, but are often inapplicable to real world problems.

• Main reason for the inapplicability: undiscovered bottlenecks which hinder the market adoption.

• These bottlenecks can originate from the six different dimensions of the dominant socio-technical regime.

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Geels, 2007 xda-developers.com

2. Innovation research and development

• Identifying and developing solutions for the diverse bottlenecks, requires integrated knowledge of multiple scientific disciplines.

• Technology is also becoming increasingly complex and dynamic.

Result: The traditional, linear, science driven approach with its uni-disciplinary focus and closed boundaries, is no longer sufficient.

• Innovation is increasingly approached from a systems perspective.

• System perspective: innovation process is nonlinear and iterative. Feedback loops are incorporated in the process to maximize learning and knowledge creation between collaborating partners.

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2. Innovation research and development

• Multidisciplinary approach• Stakeholder participation and collaboration

- Multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise- Lower individual financial costs- Division of tasks- Faster time to market- Creation of legitimacy and credibility

• Non-linear and flexible trajectory • Iterative learning loops

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4 key model elements

networkmonitoring.org

2. Innovation research and development

• Multidisciplinary approach• Stakeholder participation and collaboration• Non-linear and flexible trajectory • Iterative learning loops

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4 important key model elements

3.Conceptual model for innovation research

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Bergek et al. (2008); Bruns et al. (2008); Gallagher et al. (2012); Fetterhoff and Voelkel (2006); Wallin and von Krogh (2010); Nambisan et al. (2012) and own insights

The conceptual model

3. Conceptual model for innovation research

Broad exploratory phase with two main objectives:

Objective 1. Identification of viable innovation pathways Important criterion: Amount of bottlenecks that hinder development

and implementation

Determining bottlenecks: - Scanning relevant literature - Stakeholder participation

Objective 2. Identification of relevant stakeholders

Relevant stakeholders: - Identify bottlenecks- Provide supporting resources

Primary sources: - Industry associations- Patent analysis - Expert interviews

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The scope definition phase

Innovation impulse

Stakeholder selection

4. Empirical cases

Case 1: The high-value valorization of vegetable and fruit by-products from the agri-food industry.

Case 2: A valuable use for discards, valorizing unwanted and underutilized fish.

Case 3: The valorization of by-products from agriculture and horticulture through composting.

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Broad research goal

4. Empirical cases

• Which bottlenecks and opportunities are taking into account• How were bottlenecks and opportunities identified

• Which stakeholders were identified• How were stakeholders identified • How were stakeholders consulted

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Application of the scope definition phase

5. Discussion• Opportunities and bottlenecks concerning innovation arise in

all regime dimensions Multi-dimensional perspective:

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5. Discussion• The cases show how stakeholder participation can quickly expand

the knowledge of the individual organization:- In case one an additional potentially valuable by-product of

endive was discovered thanks to stakeholder interaction

• The importance of the scope definition phase as a networking phase, is also illustrated:

- Both in case one and three the innovation network expanded due to acquired contact information from other stakeholders.

• Flexible nature of the research process is illustrated in the cases: - Case one and two narrow the different possible innovation

pathways, while case three broadens the view to identify all potential bottlenecks and opportunities that different stakeholders experience.

- Case one used a focus group to double check gathered data and to receive information, other cases relied on individual interviews.

- Case three conducted some preliminary research in scope definition phase

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A Conceptual Model for Innovation Research in the Bio-economy

Thank you!

20.06.2013

jonas.vanlancker@ilvo.vlaanderen.bewww.ilvogenesys.be