TY - JOUR
T1 - Patterns of nanotechnology innovation and governance within a metropolitan area
AU - Foley, Rider W.
AU - Wiek, Arnim
N1 - Funding Information:
Nanotechnology, the chosen unit for this study, is an agglomeration of nanoscale science and engineering activities funded by the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative [24] . This has resulted in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) creating a new classification for patents that leverage nanotechnology [25] . Additionally, the search terms that defined by Porter et al. [26] can describe a significant increase in peer-reviewed publications that draw together a diversity of disciplines that intersect with nanotechnology as a common denominator. Further, Youtie & Shapira [27] demonstrate the connection of nanotechnology patenting and publishing with urban innovation clusters.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - The present study employs a real-time, practice-oriented, and place-based approach to dissect the process of nanotechnology innovation in support of novel governance schemes. The research question is: What are actors specifically doing in the process of nanotechnology innovation in a metropolitan area, and what are enabling and constraining drivers that could be leveraged for novel governance approaches? The study presents results from 45 interviews and a synthesis workshop with actors from academia, industry, government, and the civil society in Phoenix. Results show that actors follow preconceived mental models of innovation with the primary objective to deploy profitable commercial or military products. The dominant network actors are academics, industry, and government funding agencies. The network is divided along product-based sectors with few cross-sector linkages. Considerable governmental support for entrepreneurs and for academic research via the National Nanotechnology Initiative enables nanotechnology innovation in the early stages. Market failures and corporate barriers, however, constrain the value proposition in later phases. There is novelty in the nanotechnology products; yet, little attention is paid to consumer input, adverse effects, or broader public value generation.
AB - The present study employs a real-time, practice-oriented, and place-based approach to dissect the process of nanotechnology innovation in support of novel governance schemes. The research question is: What are actors specifically doing in the process of nanotechnology innovation in a metropolitan area, and what are enabling and constraining drivers that could be leveraged for novel governance approaches? The study presents results from 45 interviews and a synthesis workshop with actors from academia, industry, government, and the civil society in Phoenix. Results show that actors follow preconceived mental models of innovation with the primary objective to deploy profitable commercial or military products. The dominant network actors are academics, industry, and government funding agencies. The network is divided along product-based sectors with few cross-sector linkages. Considerable governmental support for entrepreneurs and for academic research via the National Nanotechnology Initiative enables nanotechnology innovation in the early stages. Market failures and corporate barriers, however, constrain the value proposition in later phases. There is novelty in the nanotechnology products; yet, little attention is paid to consumer input, adverse effects, or broader public value generation.
KW - Governance
KW - Nanotechnology innovation system
KW - Urban innovation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84887625948&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84887625948&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.techsoc.2013.10.004
DO - 10.1016/j.techsoc.2013.10.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84887625948
SN - 0160-791X
VL - 35
SP - 233
EP - 247
JO - Technology in Society
JF - Technology in Society
IS - 4
ER -