Branching innovation, recombinant innovation, and endogenous technological transitions

Koen Frenken, Luis Izquierdo and Paolo Zeppini ()
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Koen Frenken: Universiteit Utrecht / Utrecht University [Utrecht]
Paolo Zeppini: GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur

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Abstract: We propose a model of technological transitions based on two different types of innovations. Branching innovations refer to technological improvements along a particular path, while recombinant innovations represent fusions of multiple paths. Recombinant innovations create "short-cuts" which reduce switching costs allowing agents to escape a technological lock-in. As a result, recombinant innovations speed up technological progress allowing transitions that are impossible with only branching innovations. Our model replicates some stylized facts of technological change, such as technological lockin, experimental failure, punctuated change and irreversibility. Furthermore, an extensive simulation experiment suggests that there is an optimal rate of innovation, which is strongly correlated with the number of recombination innovations. This underlines the pivotal role of technological variety as a seed for recombinant innovation leading to technological transitions.

Keywords: Lock-in; Network externalities; Punctuated change; Switching costs; Variety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Published in Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2012, 4, pp.25-35. ⟨10.1016/j.eist.2012.06.001⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04575589

DOI: 10.1016/j.eist.2012.06.001

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