International Journal of Innovation Studies最新文献

This review article covers some of the founding literature that helps develop our understanding of the National Innovation System (NIS) concept. Subsequently, several versions of NIS, including system-functional approaches, are discussed and compared with narrow research and development (R&D) and market-based approaches. Finally, the article contends that the system-functional and other narrow approaches are limited in application to the developing low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, it makes a case for more inclusive absorptive capacity approaches and explains how they might be more relevant in investigating the NIS of an LMIC. Such approaches suggest LMICs be strategic in building their innovation base and plead for strong local conditions (capacities) to produce knowledge as well as capture and improvise on incoming knowledge from abroad. The research is important as it provides insights into analyzing and capturing innovation processes in LMICs, which are prime candidates for development and innovation studies and practice.

This study examines technological capability accumulation and the Brazilian rice industry's technological trajectory. Multiple case design was chosen, with an analysis of seven firms involved in the Brazilian rice industry. The results indicate three factors: The first was the identification of technological landmarks for firms in this sector (peeling and polishing, electronic grain selection, electronic packaging, use of forklifts and palletizers, and Industry 4.0). The second is related to the fact that different firms implemented innovative activities and technologies at different speeds, originating from the sector's different technological trajectories. The third is associated with identifying activities within the Brazilian rice industry that can be generalized to other food industries. These results have implications for formulating public policies in the sector, such as creating producer support mechanisms (research and technology transfer institutions), qualification of professionals, and encouragement for economic efficiency and competition.

Technology and design are increasingly recognized as important drivers of social innovation (SI). While new-age technologies can disrupt the realm of social innovation through resource-efficient solutions and multiple outcome benefits, the appliction of design thinking approaches and techniques can enhance the potential for SI through human-centered participatory processes and a socially shared vision and impact. Despite extensive research focusing on SI practices driven by technology and design respectively, few studies have concentrated on the synergistic effects of technology and design in the field of SI. This paper addresses this gap through an exploratory study on the incorporation and role of technology in the practice of design for SI. By applying the mapping approach to a sample of 81 Design-enabled Innovation (DEI) pilot projects in the DESIGNSCAPES project, the distribution, hosts and manifestations of technology footprints are identified, taking into account the multi-phase innovation processes and multifaceted role of design. Our findings suggest that in design-supported SI, technology can be integrated in a systematic and conventional manner across a range of domains related to people, interactions, contexts, and artefacts and that its interaction with design actions is highly dependent on the different roles of design, followed by a further discussion of a conceptual argument regarding the possible role of technology in supporting design for SI. Based on these findings and results, the article concludes with the limitations of the study and possible theoretical and managerial implications.