IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v136y2018icp208-221.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring innovation ecosystems across science, technology, and business: A case of 3D printing in China

Author

Listed:
  • Xu, Guannan
  • Wu, Yuchen
  • Minshall, Tim
  • Zhou, Yuan

Abstract

The concept of the innovation ecosystem is receiving increasing attention worldwide. Governments and industrialists are keen to foster innovation ecosystems to systematically cultivate favourable environments and encourage local innovators to create knowledge and capture business value. In particular, innovation ecosystems require specific attention when faced with fast-developing emerging industries that closely link science, technology, and business. This study, therefore, develops a framework to investigate the innovation capacities of a multi-layered innovation ecosystem that involves science, technology, and business sub-ecosystems, when considering two core attributes of the innovation ecosystem: the integrated value chain and the interactive network. Furthermore, this framework analyses the interplays across science, technology, and business layers; on that basis, a four-quadrant diagram can be plotted to denote innovation pathways. China's 3D printing ecosystem was selected as a case study. This study found that China's 3D printing ecosystem performs well in science and technology, and may have new development pathways that originate from basic research and technology rather than from duplicating technologies and low-cost production. This study contributes to the literature on innovation ecosystems and has implications for industrialists, researchers, and policymakers.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Guannan & Wu, Yuchen & Minshall, Tim & Zhou, Yuan, 2018. "Exploring innovation ecosystems across science, technology, and business: A case of 3D printing in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 208-221.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:136:y:2018:i:c:p:208-221
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2017.06.030
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162517308703
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.06.030?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Battistella, Cinzia & Colucci, Katia & De Toni, Alberto F. & Nonino, Fabio, 2013. "Methodology of business ecosystems network analysis: A case study in Telecom Italia Future Centre," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 80(6), pages 1194-1210.
    2. Ronald N. Kostoff & J. Antonio del Río & James A. Humenik & Esther Ofilia García & Ana María Ramírez, 2001. "Citation mining: Integrating text mining and bibliometrics for research user profiling," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 52(13), pages 1148-1156.
    3. Frenken, Koen & Saviotti, Paolo P. & Trommetter, Michel, 1999. "Variety and niche creation in aircraft, helicopters, motorcycles and microcomputers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 469-488, June.
    4. Xiaobo Wu & Rufei Ma & Guannan Xu, 2009. "Accelerating Secondary Innovation through Organizational Learning: A Case Study and Theoretical Analysis," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(4-5), pages 389-409.
    5. Clarysse, Bart & Wright, Mike & Bruneel, Johan & Mahajan, Aarti, 2014. "Creating value in ecosystems: Crossing the chasm between knowledge and business ecosystems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1164-1176.
    6. Amnon Frenkel & Shlomo Maital, 2014. "Mapping National Innovation Ecosystems," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 15408.
    7. Corey C. Phelps & Ralph Heidl & Anu Wadhwa, 2012. "Networks, knowledge, and knowledge networks: A critical review and research agenda," Post-Print hal-00715591, HAL.
    8. AnnaLee Saxenian, 2006. "International Mobility of Engineers and the Rise of Entrepreneurship in the Periphery," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2006-142, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. Park, Han Woo & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2013. "Decomposing social and semantic networks in emerging “big data” research," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 756-765.
    10. Suarez, Fernando F., 2004. "Battles for technological dominance: an integrative framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 271-286, March.
    11. Christina Öberg & Christina Grundström, 2009. "Challenges And Opportunities In Innovative Firms' Network Development," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 13(04), pages 593-613.
    12. Ron Adner & Rahul Kapoor, 2010. "Value creation in innovation ecosystems: how the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 306-333, March.
    13. MacGarvie, Megan, 2005. "The determinants of international knowledge diffusion as measured by patent citations," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 121-126, April.
    14. Filipe M. Santos & Kathleen M. Eisenhardt, 2005. "Organizational Boundaries and Theories of Organization," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(5), pages 491-508, October.
    15. Powell, Walter W. & Giannella, Eric, 2010. "Collective Invention and Inventor Networks," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 575-605, Elsevier.
    16. Ruolian Fang & Blaine Landis & Zhen Zhang & Marc H. Anderson & Jason D. Shaw & Martin Kilduff, 2015. "Integrating Personality and Social Networks: A Meta-Analysis of Personality, Network Position, and Work Outcomes in Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 1243-1260, August.
    17. Yuan Zhou & Xin Li & Rasmus Lema & Frauke Urban, 2016. "Comparing the knowledge bases of wind turbine firms in Asia and Europe: Patent trajectories, networks, and globalisation," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 43(4), pages 476-491.
    18. Pedro L. Marín & Georges Siotis, 2007. "Innovation And Market Structure: An Empirical Evaluation Of The ‘Bounds Approach’ In The Chemical Industry," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 93-111, March.
    19. Binz, Christian & Truffer, Bernhard & Coenen, Lars, 2014. "Why space matters in technological innovation systems—Mapping global knowledge dynamics of membrane bioreactor technology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 138-155.
    20. Johan Schot & Frank Geels, 2007. "Niches in evolutionary theories of technical change," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 605-622, October.
    21. Nakamura, Hiroko & Suzuki, Shinji & Sakata, Ichiro & Kajikawa, Yuya, 2015. "Knowledge combination modeling: The measurement of knowledge similarity between different technological domains," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 187-201.
    22. Bergek, Anna & Jacobsson, Staffan & Carlsson, Bo & Lindmark, Sven & Rickne, Annika, 2008. "Analyzing the functional dynamics of technological innovation systems: A scheme of analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 407-429, April.
    23. Anthony F. J. van Raan, 2005. "Fatal attraction: Conceptual and methodological problems in the ranking of universities by bibliometric methods," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 62(1), pages 133-143, January.
    24. Kong, Dejing & Zhou, Yuan & Liu, Yufei & Xue, Lan, 2017. "Using the data mining method to assess the innovation gap: A case of industrial robotics in a catching-up country," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 80-97.
    25. Ju, Yonghan & Sohn, So Young, 2015. "Patent-based QFD framework development for identification of emerging technologies and related business models: A case of robot technology in Korea," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 44-64.
    26. Battistella, Cinzia, 2014. "The organisation of Corporate Foresight: A multiple case study in the telecommunication industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 60-79.
    27. Bekkers, Rudi & Martinelli, Arianna, 2012. "Knowledge positions in high-tech markets: Trajectories, standards, strategies and true innovators," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 79(7), pages 1192-1216.
    28. Wang, Ming-Yeu & Fang, Shih-Chieh & Chang, Yu-Hsuan, 2015. "Exploring technological opportunities by mining the gaps between science and technology: Microalgal biofuels," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 182-195.
    29. Keun Lee & Chaisung Lim, 1999. "Technological Regimes, Catch-up and Leapfrogging: Findings from the Korean Industries," Working Paper Series no17, Institute of Economic Research, Seoul National University.
    30. Suzuki, Jun, 2011. "Structural modeling of the value of patent," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(7), pages 986-1000, September.
    31. Oh, Deog-Seong & Phillips, Fred & Park, Sehee & Lee, Eunghyun, 2016. "Innovation ecosystems: A critical examination," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-6.
    32. Choe, Hochull & Lee, Duk Hee & Seo, Il Won & Kim, Hee Dae, 2013. "Patent citation network analysis for the domain of organic photovoltaic cells: Country, institution, and technology field," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 492-505.
    33. Lamar Pierce, 2009. "Big losses in ecosystem niches: how core firm decisions drive complementary product shakeouts," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 323-347, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guannan Xu & Weijie Hu & Yuanyuan Qiao & Yuan Zhou, 2020. "Mapping an innovation ecosystem using network clustering and community identification: a multi-layered framework," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 124(3), pages 2057-2081, September.
    2. Gomes, Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos & Facin, Ana Lucia Figueiredo & Salerno, Mario Sergio & Ikenami, Rodrigo Kazuo, 2018. "Unpacking the innovation ecosystem construct: Evolution, gaps and trends," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 30-48.
    3. Dedehayir, Ozgur & Mäkinen, Saku J. & Ortt, J. Roland, 2022. "Innovation ecosystems as structures: Actor roles, timing of their entrance, and interactions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    4. Phillips, Mark A. & Ritala, Paavo, 2019. "A complex adaptive systems agenda for ecosystem research methodology," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    5. Elisa Villani & Christian Lechner, 2019. "The emergence of an innovation ecosystem in a low innovation region: Disrupting inertia by a young university," BEMPS - Bozen Economics & Management Paper Series BEMPS63, Faculty of Economics and Management at the Free University of Bozen.
    6. Shi, Xianwei & Liang, Xingkun & Luo, Yining, 2023. "Unpacking the intellectual structure of ecosystem research in innovation studies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    7. Tsujimoto, Masaharu & Kajikawa, Yuya & Tomita, Junichi & Matsumoto, Yoichi, 2018. "A review of the ecosystem concept — Towards coherent ecosystem design," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 49-58.
    8. Cobben, Dieudonnee & Ooms, Ward & Roijakkers, Nadine & Radziwon, Agnieszka, 2022. "Ecosystem types: A systematic review on boundaries and goals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 138-164.
    9. Choi, Kwang Hun & Kwon, Gyu Hyun, 2023. "Strategies for sensing innovation opportunities in smart grids: In the perspective of interactive relationships between science, technology, and business," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    10. Gomes, Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos & Flechas, Ximena Alejandra & Facin, Ana Lucia Figueiredo & Borini, Felipe Mendes, 2021. "Ecosystem management: Past achievements and future promises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    11. Mark A. Phillips & Jagjit Singh Srai, 2018. "Exploring Emerging Ecosystem Boundaries: Defining ‘The Game’," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(08), pages 1-21, December.
    12. Chao Zhang & Jiancheng Guan, 2017. "How to identify metaknowledge trends and features in a certain research field? Evidences from innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 113(2), pages 1177-1197, November.
    13. Zhongji Yang & Liangqun Qi & Xin Li & Tianxi Wang, 2022. "How Does Successful Catch-Up Occur in Complex Products and Systems from the Innovation Ecosystem Perspective? A Case of China’s High-Speed Railway," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-22, June.
    14. Yuan Zhou & Meijuan Pan & Frauke Urban, 2018. "Comparing the International Knowledge Flow of China’s Wind and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Industries: Patent Analysis and Implications for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-34, June.
    15. Rush, Howard & Marshall, Nick & Bessant, John & Ramalingam, Ben, 2021. "Applying an ecosystems approach to humanitarian innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    16. Christina Theodoraki & Karim Messeghem & Mark P. Rice, 2018. "A social capital approach to the development of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an explorative study," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 153-170, June.
    17. Yang Gao, 2022. "The Belt and Road Initiative and cascading innovation in China’s domestic railway ecosystem," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(2), pages 236-258, June.
    18. Takey, Silvia Mayumi & Carvalho, Marly M., 2016. "Fuzzy front end of systemic innovations: A conceptual framework based on a systematic literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 97-109.
    19. Arenal, Alberto & Armuña, Cristina & Feijoo, Claudio & Ramos, Sergio & Xu, Zimu & Moreno, Ana, 2020. "Innovation ecosystems theory revisited: The case of artificial intelligence in China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(6).
    20. Hou, Hong & Shi, Yongjiang, 2021. "Ecosystem-as-structure and ecosystem-as-coevolution: A constructive examination," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:136:y:2018:i:c:p:208-221. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.