A knowledge-based perspective on system weaknesses in technological innovation systems

Johan Frishammar, Patrik Söderholm, Hans Hellsmark and Johanna Mossberg
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Patrik Söderholm

Science and Public Policy, 2019, vol. 46, issue 1, 55-70

Abstract: The literature on technological innovation systems (TIS) provides policymakers and other actors with a scheme of analysis to identify system weaknesses. In doing so, TIS analysis centres on which system weaknesses policy interventions should target to promote further development of a particular system. However, prior TIS literature has not sufficiently elaborated on what may constitute the conceptual roots of a ‘weakness’. We apply a knowledge-based perspective and propose that many—albeit not all—system weaknesses may root in four types of knowledge problems: uncertainty, complexity, equivocality, and ambiguity. Employing these as sensitizing concepts, we study system weaknesses by analysing data from a biorefinery TIS in Sweden. This analysis results in novel implications for the TIS literature and for achieving a better match between system weaknesses and the design of innovation policies.

Keywords: technological innovation system; system weakness; uncertainty; complexity; equivocality; ambiguity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:scippl:v:46:y:2019:i:1:p:55-70.

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