Recent years have witnessed many significant changes in the global technology landscape. An interesting change we have observed is that some traditional technology late-coming countries such as China and Korea have started to emerge as influential players in the international arena of technology innovation. Historically, developed countries, holding incomparable advantages in financial markets and technologically intensive industries, have naturally taken the lead in technology innovation; while severe deficiencies and challenges are normally faced for developing, or late-coming countries, in innovation. In the literature, strong support from the government has been proven to be crucial for late-coming countries to overcome the deficiencies and to catch up in technology innovation. Based on innovation system perspective, this dissertation aims to understand how the government intervention in technological innovation system (TIS) promotes technology innovation, especially that in the catching-up context. This dissertation examines two technology innovation cases in China, namely the TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE mobile system innovations. A theoretical framework is developed based on institutional theory to structure the case studies. Qualitative methods including documentary research and semi-structured interviews are applied for data collection. This research concludes that, in the stages of technology development and technology diffusion, different TIS functions need to be achieved and different challenges are faced, which require government intervention. The government could analyse how TIS functions are achieved and how challenges are formed in relation to the TIS structural components, in order to determine the intervention strategy. Government can take both direct intervention on TIS actors, and indirect intervention through impacting TIS institutional environment, with regulative, normative and cognitive instruments. In the catching-up context, government interventions contribute more to path-breaking type technology innovations than path-dependent ones in terms of ensuring the success of innovation. Practical implications for the government to effectively intervene in innovation initiatives are given.

The production of biogas via anaerobic digestion is an effective technology for converting organic waste into renewable fuel. Using the Technological Innovation System (TIS) theory for assessing emerging technologies a comparison between the British and Swedish biogas sectors is carried out. There are seven components to a TIS allowing the sector to be broken down, a potential scheme for the connection of the functions is illustrated. The Swedish biogas sector is at a more advanced stage of development due to long-term governmental support both financially and through stringent environmental laws. Overall the Swedish government has been an effective system builder allowing the Swedish biogas sector to expand. The British biogas sector is conversely less advanced due to lack of this long-term support, although the scene is beginning to change as the government positions itself as a more effective system builder. Several lessons can be learnt from the Swedish biogas sector; longterm financial support for renewable energy is required and stringent organic waste disposal laws both encourage the development of biogas.

There is consensus about a need to reduce the amount of green-house gas emission in the electricity industry to be able to deal with the probable consequences of climate change. This necessitates extensive investments in technologies used to generate electricity from renewable energy sources (RES-E). To stimulate such investments, governments have enacted several policy instruments. However, the outcomes of these instruments are mixed. This thesis delineates two reasons for the different effects of policies. First, the development of the renewable electricity industry hinges on a set of driving forces that differ across regions, through the years and for different actors. Given that, policy instruments are not only driving forces behind the renewable electricity industry and can thus by themselves not explain its development. Second, RES-E investors comprise a heterogeneous group of actors whose perceptions of business opportunities vary substantially and are also based on a variety of driving forces. Hence, RES-E investors may react differently to changes within the electricity industry, as well as to government policies that aim to create a more sustainable electricity industry. Garnering a better understanding of these reactions is therefore important as they influence the pace of transition to a more sustainable electricity industry. This is an interdisciplinary study that brings together several theories and research areas. First, using the technological innovation system perspective, it identifies systemic driving forces behind the development of the renewable energy industry that will also accelerate the electricity industry transitions to sustainability. To gain a better insight into the role of policy instruments as such as well as in relation to other driving forces, this thesis explores what factors are accounted for in attempts to assess the instruments’ performance. Second, drawing on sustainability transition studies and dynamic capability theories, this thesis seeks to explore which firms are willing to contribute—and capable of contributing—to sustainability transitions in the electricity industry. The thesis argues that good forecast and policy plans need to be built on a solid understanding of the firms that change the structure of the electricity industry through their RES-E investments. This thesis leverages a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Empirical data are collected through two extensive literature reviews on the driving forces of the renewable energy industry development in Europe, a longitudinal case study on a European multinational energy company, and statistical analyses of data on RES-E investors in Sweden. The thesis makes theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions to this area of research. The findings explain what motivates the development of the renewable energy industry; who competes in the renewable electricity industry; and what the future renewable electricity industry may look like. The thesis outlines implications for policies, for managers as well as for renewable energy technologies. / <p>This research was conducted within the framework of the “European Doctorate in Industrial Management” - EDIM - which is funded by The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of European Commission under Erasmus Mundus Action 1 programme. </p><p>QC 20160119</p>

Ce travail de thèse a pour objectif la mise en place d’un processus d’intelligence économique au sein d’une start-up proposant une technologie émergente. Dans ce cas d’étude, nous avons mis en évidence une double émergence : l’environnement nouveau et l’entreprise en construction.Dans un premier temps, nous mobilisons un cadre analytique original pour le processus d’intelligence économique : les TIS – Technological Innovation Systems. Cette grille de lecture propose une analyse dynamique du système d’innovation de l’entreprise à travers la structure et les interactions auxquelles les acteurs du système prennent part. Dans un deuxième temps, nous abordons l’intérêt de considérer les éléments intrinsèques de la start-up pour la mise en place d’un processus d’intelligence économique. Notre compréhension des éléments spécifiques de la start-up, comme sa structure adhocratique, a permis dans un troisième temps, l’implémentation d’outils cohérents avec la prégnance de la dimension humaine et les ressources que l’entreprise peut mobiliser. Nous avons organisé la création de connaissances à partir du cycle de l’information, proposé une première évaluation du processus d’intelligence économique en place et déduit les prolongements envisagés. Dans un quatrième temps, nous nous sommes focalisés sur l’utilisation du brevet pour la compréhension de notre domaine technologique.Réalisée dans une démarche de recherche-action (menée dans le cadre d’une convention CIFRE), cette thèse expose l’expérimentation de notre méthode d’intelligence économique au sein de Poietis, start-up française de bioimpression. / This thesis aims to implement a competitive intelligence process within a start-up that develops an emerging technology. A double emergence has been identified: the environment of the company and the company itself.First, we call upon an original analytical framework for competitive intelligence: Technological Innovation Systems (TIS). This framework allows for a dynamic analysis of the innovation system of the company through the structure and the interactions between the agents within the system. Second, we address the benefit of taking into the account the intrinsic characteristics of the company for the implementation of a competitive intelligence process. Our understanding of specific elements of the start-up, its adhocratic structure for instance, has allowed in a third step to implement tools in line with the importance of the human dimension and the resources that the company can mobilize.We organized the creation of knowledge from the information cycle, suggest a first evaluation of the competitive intelligence process and deduced the considered extensions.Finally, we focused on the use of patent for the understanding of a technological domain.Carried out in an action research approach (conducted as part of a CIFRE contract), this thesis shows the test of our method of technology intelligence within Poietis, a French bioprinting start-up.

Biomethane (upgraded form of biogas) holds unlocked potential as a substitute to fossil natural gas, in terms of achieving climate reduction targets as well as developing a locally secured fuel supply. Biomethane is fully compatible with the existing natural gas grid infrastructure. Currently, nine countries in European Union are practicing natural gas grid injection. Remaining countries are in various phases of development concerning production and utilisation of biomethane. Successful deployment of a biomethane project requires coordinated action in terms of academic, industrial and economic co-operation. It demands established legal and political framework as well as supportive financial conditions. The thesis aims at researching how the state of development of biomethane generation and utilization gets affected by the support activities within a countries policy framework? To seek a solution, the theoretical framework of “Technological Innovation System (TIS)” is adapted. TIS provide a methodological approach to assess the development of an upcoming technology under the existing policies, regulatory and financial conditions. In the given study, the framework of TIS is adapted to the technology of “biomethane generation and injection into natural gas grid”. This adaptation led to the development of: Detailed overlapping matrix of the main structural components i.e. Actors, Networks and Institutions and their corresponding activities across the value chain. Development of a set of diagnostic questions and performance indicators, enabling an assessment of the dynamics of the technological system, eventually leading to the identification of strengths and weaknesses in the system. The adapted technological system analysis framework is further applied on two countries “Germany and UK” as case studies. With the aid of diagnostic questions, the dynamic system characteristics are evaluated in each country context. Germany reveals a well-functioning biomethane TIS. Considerable knowledge base and experience is available, appropriate policies and financial incentives are in place, dedicated organisations are established to address the technological and industrial issues. Germany currently has a market promoting biomethane utilisation via CHP applications. Further growth can be expected by addressing resource mobilisation to fulfill a larger share of heat demand and application as renewable transport fuel. Biomethane industry is in its nascent stage in the UK. At the time of thesis research two upgrading plants are in operation. Analysis of the system functions within UK, signals a healthy biogas industry, but there is lack of activity within the “biomethane” context. The industry is in the stage of knowledge development. Biomethane production is well communicated within national strategies. The key technical issues being encountered by the industry are the focus of research. A balanced market formation would require increasing the resource mobilisation in terms of availability of skilled manpower as well as providing access to financial capital. The industry is experiencing pilot trials and subsequent dissemination of information of the results of these trials to the stakeholders in the value chain is recommended. Overall, Technological Innovation System (TIS) has been an effective tool to evaluate the national approach towards development and deployment of biomethane as a technology .Moreover TIS assists in systematic identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the system. It provides a methodological approach to statically and dynamically analyse biomethane development strategy within a given region and can also assist in benchmarking the development conditions in more than one region. / European Project Titled "GreenGasGrids"

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:31:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabricio Simplicio Maia.pdf: 1911957 bytes, checksum: b8f20e67db464d0c8dec1cc39d4cd504 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-11-07 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo / This study aimed to explore in a deductive way the relationship between constructs: STI biotechnology, considered at the regional level, the relational capabilities of human biotechnology companies, and the attributes of the transaction costs of alliances in Brazil. The universe considered were companies operating in the biotechnology industry. The sample was composed of companies active in human health biotechnology industry in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. The levels of analysis were the constructs: Technological Innovation System, Attributes of Cost Transaction and Capacity Relational. The unit of analysis was the contractual strategic alliances formalized by the companies. A structural sample was developed and measurement consists of causal relationships based on existing theory. From the sample, latent variables were defined at first, second and third order and measurable indicators. Data were collected in two ways: access to secondary data, provided by the government and private organizations, access to primary data through structured interviews with managers or people directly connected with the management of strategic alliances contractual process. To test the measurement model, it was conducted to the analysis of structural equation modeling method solved by Partial Least Squares. The results show that the dynamics of Technological Innovation System influences the frequency of transactions, but it proved not to be enough to change the nature of the uncertainty of transactions, as well as in relation to the Assets Specificity. The Technological Innovation System also positively influenced but not statistically significant the Relational Capacity, demonstrating not to be, by itself, capable of generating development of this type of dynamic capability. The ratio of positive influence of Attributes Transaction Cost in the development of relational capacity was confirmed. The moderation hypothesis was confirmed, making it possible to say that allowing the Technological Innovation System strengthens the relationship between the attributes of the Transaction Cost and Relational Capacity. The paper finally presents theoretical and methodological contributions arising from analysis of the relationships discussed practical contributions to managers of companies operating in the industry and for the formulation of public policies whose goal is regional and economic development of the biotechnology industry, human health in Brazil. / Esse estudo teve como objetivo explorar de forma dedutiva a relação entre os construtos: STI de biotecnologia, considerado no nível regional; a capacidade relacional das empresas de biotecnologia humana; e os atributos dos custos de transações de alianças no Brasil. O universo considerado foram as empresas que atuam na indústria de biotecnologia. A amostra foi composta pelas empresas atuantes na indústria de biotecnologia saúde humana, nos estados de São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná e Rio Grande do Sul. Os níveis de análise foram os construtos: Sistema Tecnológico de Inovação, Atributos dos Custos de Transação e Capacidade Relacional. A unidade de análise foram as alianças estratégicas contratuais formalizadas pelas empresas. Foi elaborado um modelo estrutural e de mensuração composto por relações causais baseadas na teoria existente. A partir do modelo, definiram-se variáveis latentes de primeira, segunda e terceira ordem e indicadores mensuráveis. Os dados foram coletados de duas formas: acesso a dados secundários, disponibilizados por organizações governamentais e privadas; acesso aos dados primários por meio de entrevistas estruturadas realizadas com gestores ou pessoas diretamente ligadas ao processo de gestão das alianças estratégicas contratuais. Para testar o modelo de mensuração procedeu-se à análise da modelagem de equações estruturais resolvido pelo método Partial Least Squares. Os resultados mostram que a dinamicidade do Sistema Tecnológico de Inovação exerce influência na Frequência das transações, mas demonstrou não ser suficiente para alterar a natureza da Incerteza das transações, bem como em relação à Especificidade dos Ativos. O Sistema Tecnológico de Inovação ainda influenciou de forma positiva, mas não estatisticamente significativa a Capacidade Relacional, demonstrando não ser, por si só, capaz de gerar desenvolvimento desse tipo de capacidade dinâmica. Foi confirmada a relação de influência positiva dos Atributos do Custo de Transação no desenvolvimento da Capacidade Relacional. Quanto à hipótese de moderação, foi confirmada, possibilitando dizer que o Sistema Tecnológico de Inovação reforça a relação entre os Atributos do Custo de Transação e a Capacidade Relacional. O trabalho, por fim apresenta contribuições teóricas e metodológicas advindas das análises das relações discutidas, contribuições práticas para os gestores das empresas que atuam na indústria e para a formulação de políticas públicas cuja meta seja o desenvolvimento regional e econômico da indústria de biotecnologia, saúde humana, no Brasil.

Background: The agro-food sector faces several sustainability challenges and is in clear need of transitions to become more sustainable. A transition in food production, consumption and supply chains that demand fewer resources and fewer animal products is required to attain sustainability in the agro-food sector. This transition can be done by consuming more plant-based food and providing an alternate option to animal protein by substituting it with plant protein. Purpose: This study aims to understand the technological innovation system shaping around the value chain of Swedish legumes. To investigate the above aim, this research intends to address the following questions: RQ1: How is the innovation system built up, and how do the functions of the innovation system perform around the value chain of Swedish legumes? RQ2: What are the barriers connected to the innovation system that hinders the development of the value chain of Swedish legumes? Method: The methodology used was a qualitative case study with an abductive approach. The data was collected from 8 semi-structured interviews and a literature review of relevant articles. The empirical findings were then analysed using a framework based on Technology Innovation System (TIS). Implications: This research study describes the structural causes that form functional barriers in the innovation system that hinders the development of a value chain for Swedish legumes. The findings of this study provides an excellent opportunity for government agencies and policymakers to guide plans and actions through policies to provide incentives for farmers and research projects in favour of a sustainable transition towards more plant-based food. Also, our study contributes to an understanding of sustainability transitions in the Swedish agro-food sector by analysing how the TIS functions perform around the value chain of Swedish legumes.

Sustainability transition has gained more interest in academic research. However, it has rarely been studied specifically from a firm-level perspective. Therefore, this study aims to understand and learn from the firm-level perspective to contribute to firm- and system-level understanding. The case study of insects as food and feed industry is interesting in a niche and challenging market or to understand the overcoming activities of those facing barriers, whether the overcoming of customer acceptance, uncertainty of the market, and the regulations of eating insects as just been approved by the European Commission in recent years. Moreover, the study of insects has been widely focused on entomology, such as species, and nutrition. It is beginning to be studied in the food sector in Western countries, recently. Therefore, this research will contribute an in-depth understanding of the firm-level in the edible insect industry, especially in the business section in Sweden. This research contributes to the understanding of entrepreneurs' sustainable business models in different time periods, which could be shaped by barriers and opportunities. The barriers found in this study are similar to previous studies of the insect industry in other countries, except for customer acceptance, which seems to be different in Sweden. The customer issue that stands out here is finding the niche group of customers and the niche product that suits these early adopter customers. I also found the importance of entrepreneurial activities in relation to the development of the technological innovation system (TIS). The actors or entrepreneurs are the catalysts for the development of the TIS in the uncertain industry, since every single movement of the entrepreneurs leads to the dynamics of the system, such as a lobbying activity to overcome the regulatory barrier.

Factors that could enable the development of a distribution system for hydrogen applied to heavy-duty vehicles in Sweden are studied in this thesis. Fuel cell and hydrogen technology could be a solution in an electrification mix to reduce the environmental impacts of heavy-duty vehicles (Neef, 2009). However, the distribution system for hydrogen in Sweden is limited, with only five hydrogen refueling stations geographically dispersed (Vätgas Sverige, n.d.). In addition, distribution options at the lowest-cost delivery mode are highly dependent on the hydrogen application, density of demand, quantity to be transported, and distance between the delivery point and the production (Bersani, et al., 2018) To determine what factors could be decisive to develop a distribution system, the technological innovation system framework has been applied in this study. The analysis is carried out with the framework’s system functions. Further, the analysis is based on literature on hydrogen that considers hindering factors and barriers, policy recommendations, lock-in effects, distribution and transportation, and centralized vs. de-centralized systems. Moreover, data has been collected through 11 semi-structured interviews with actors from different sectors, energy companies, truck manufacturers, and researchers, amongst others. The analysis concludes that cross-sectoral collaboration, pilot testing, and governmental support can be enabling factors for the development of a distribution system in Sweden. / Faktorer som kan möjliggöra utvecklingen av ett distributionssystem för vätgas applicerat för tunga fordon i Sverige studeras i den här studien. Tekniken för bränsleceller och vätgas kan vara en lösning i en elektrifieringsmix för att minska miljöpåverkan från tunga fordon (Neef,2009). Distributionssystemet för vätgas i Sverige är dock begränsat, med endast fem vätgastankstationer som är geografiskt spridda (Vätgas Sverige, n.d.). Dessutom är distributionsalternativen till lägst kostnad i hög grad beroende av väteapplikationen, efterfrågan, kvantitet som ska transporteras och avståndet mellan leveranspunkten och produktionen (Bersani, et al., 2018). För att avgöra vilka faktorer som kan vara avgörande för att utveckla ett distributionssystem har ramverket för teknisk innovation system tillämpats i den här studien. Analysen utförs med ramverkets systemfunktioner. Vidare baseras analysen på litteratur om väte som tar hänsyn till hindrande faktorer och barriärer, policyrekommendationer, lock-in-effekter, distribution och transport och centraliserade kontra decentraliserade system. Dessutom har data samlats ingenom 11 halvstrukturerade intervjuer med aktörer från olika sektorer, energibolag, lastbilstillverkare och forskare, bland annat. Utifrån analysen dras slutsatsen att sektorsövergripande samarbete, pilottestning och statligt stöd är faktorer som kan möjliggöra en utveckling av ett distributionssystem för vätgas i Sverige.

Au Brésil, la canne à sucre sert de matière première à la fabrication de sucre, de carburant, et d’électricité. Ce modèle industriel a permis au pays d’ériger en avantage compétitif sa productivité en biomasse. Il a été promu en Afrique mais la majorité des projets d’agroénergies y a été un échec. Ce constat pose la question de l’intérêt du modèle au Brésil et du rôle des agroénergies dans une stratégie de développement. Notre analyse pose le « modèle brésilien » comme Système d’Innovation Technologique - le SIT de la canne - dont nous analysons la trajectoire de long terme afin d’en saisir les déterminants de succès et d’échec ainsi que le rôle socio-économique historique. Il se structure depuis la fin du XIXème et sert une stratégie de diversification des marchés de la canne à sucre par l’importation, l’adaptation et la diffusion des technologies nécessaires à l’essor de ces nouveaux marchés. La filière biocarburant a en particulier nécessité de créer un système technologique alternatif. Le soutien public a été déterminant dans l’évolution du SIT de la canne, façonnée par les crises sociales et économiques du pays. Par le SIT de la canne, le Brésil a pu former son capital humain à la valorisation du capital naturel, cela lui permet aujourd’hui d’expérimenter une conversion agroécologique du mode de culture, afin de régénérer le capital naturel sol.Notre analyse du modèle brésilien nous permet de préciser la fonction des agroénergies dans une stratégie de développement : elles sont avant tout un outil de soutien à l’économie agricole. Au regard de cela nous analysons les facteurs d’échecs des projets africains de jatropha-énergie et formulons une proposition pour la structuration d’un SIT des agroénergies adapté aux enjeux de développement de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, que nous proposons d’adosser à la filière oléagineuse. / In Brazil, sugar cane is used as a raw material for the production of sugar, fuel, and electricity. This industrial model has enabled the country to build a competitive advantage on the biomass productivity of its soils. It has been promoted in Africa but the majority of African bioenergy projects have been a failure. This raises the question of the interest of the model in Brazil, of the role of bioenergy in a development strategy.The Brazilian model is a Technological Innovation System, the sugar cane TIS, which we analyze in the long term. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been structured to import, adapt and spread technologies in order to diversify sugar cane markets. The biofuel sector required the creation of an alternative technological system, financed by the State through the Proalcool Program (1975 to 1985); Created to absorb the surpluses of the sugar sector and for the energy security of the country. Public support was key in the evolution of the TIS, forged in the wake of the country's social and economic crises. The sugar cane TIS has enabled Brazil to train its human capital in the valorization of natural capital, which enables it today to experiment a new change : the agroecological conversion of the cane cultivation model, that would allow regenerating the Natural Capital soil. Based on our analysis of the Brazilian model we formulate an analysis of the factors of failure of the African jatropha biofuel projects and make a proposal for the structuring of a biofuel TIS adapted to West Africa stakes of development, which we suggest to back up to the oilseed chain. / No Brasil, a cana-de-açúcar é utilizado como matéria-prima na fabricação de açúcar, combustível e eletricidade. Este modelo de negócio tem permitido ao país para transformar a produtividade de biomassa de seu solo em uma vantagem competitiva. Ele foi promovido na África, mas a maioria dos projetos de agroenergia africanos houve uma falha. Isso levanta a questão do interesse do modelo no Brasil, bem como o papel da bioenergia em uma estratégia de desenvolvimento. O modelo brasileiro é um Sistema de Inovação Tecnológica, o SIT da cana, que analisamos a longo prazo. Ele é estruturado desde o final do século XIX para importação, adaptação e difusão de tecnologias afim de diversificar os mercados de cana. O setor do etanol combustível tem necessidade de um sistema tecnologia alternativa, financiado pelo governo através do Programa Proálcool (1975-1985); ele foi criado para absorver os excedentes do sector do açúcar e para a segurança energética do país. O apoio público tem sido fundamental para a evolução do SIT, foi forjada pelas crises sociais e económicas do país. Hoje o SIT da cana-de-açúcar experimenta um modelo de produção agroecológica para o cultivo da cana, ele deveria ser capaz de regenerar o capital natural. Nossa análise do modelo brasileiro nos permite fazer uma análise dos fatores de não-sucesso dos projetos africanos de produção de biocombustível de jatropha. Nós formular uma proposta de estruturação de um SIT da agroenergia Oeste Africano adaptado às questões de desenvolvimento locais, propomos a ser associado ao setor oleaginosa.