Compulsive policy-making—The evolution of the German feed-in tariff system for solar photovoltaic power

In recent years, policy approaches that build upon the notion of innovation systems have enjoyed increasing attention in science, technology and innovation policy. But while the usefulness of systemic thinking in policy-making has been demonstrated in a large number of empirical settings, we still lack a detailed understanding of the dynamics at play when policy makers address systemic problems. In this paper, we show how complex interdependencies and the uncertain nature of technological change shape the process of targeted policy interventions in socio-technical systems. Toward this end we analyzed the evolution of the German feed-in tariff (FIT) system for solar photovoltaic power, a highly effective and widely copied policy instrument targeted at fostering the diffusion and development of renewable energy technologies. We find that the policy has been subject to a considerable amount of changes, many of which are the result of policy makers addressing specific system issues and bottlenecks. Interestingly, however, often these issues themselves were driven by unforeseen technological developments induced by previous policy interventions. We argue that the pattern of policy serving as both a solution to and a driver of technological bottlenecks shows strong similarities with what Rosenberg (1969) called ‘compulsive sequences’ in the development of technical systems. By shedding more light on how the characteristics of socio-technical systems affect policy interventions, our framework represents a first step toward more closely integrating the literature on innovation systems with the work on policy learning.     

老马识途：“多面手”高管与企业创新

本文主要考察决策者经历多样性对企业创新的具体效应及其影响机制。基于中国上市企业董事长和总经理工作、学习及其他经历指标体系,我们采用主成分分析法构造决策者经历多样性综合指数,研究发现：决策者经历多样性对企业创新绩效存在显著的正向促进效应。决策者经历多样性通过提高失败容忍度、促进协同创新、识别并激励高水平发明家等途径促进企业创新。决策者经历多样性对企业创新的影响在高科技企业、成长性企业以及国有企业中更加明显。     

Sociotechnical constituencies, game theory, and the diffusion of compact discs. An inter-disciplinary investigation into the market for recorded music

This article was motivated by the inquiry of the National Heritage Committee of the British House of Commons into the price of compact discs in 1993. Its general thrust is to foster the dialogue between sociological approaches to the study of innovation and microeconomic theory. To do this, it presents a comprehensive case study of technological innovation in the market for recorded music in Britain. The material is analysed with the aid of the ‘sociotechnical constituencies’ approach recently proposed in this journal by Alfonso Molina, followed by a game theoretical analysis of competitive alignment between the dominant constituents. Using this interdisciplinary approach, the article argues that technological innovation may induce price rigidities by allowing the establishment of focal points for tacit collusion. The innovation of compact discs enabled the major record companies to redefine the overall price level to their advantage, after the industry had undergone a period of profit-squeezing price-competition. This has the important policy implication that radical product innovation may call for regulative changes in the techno-institutional structure of the market.     

Techno therapy or nurtured niches? Technology studies and the evaluation of radical innovations

This article contributes to recent discussions in technology studies about applying insights from technology studies to policy decisions about the development and management of technological innovations. It does so by examining two approaches that can be used by policy makers to manage radical technological innovations in mobility and transportation: strategic niche management (SNM) and the PROTEE approach. The SNM approach uses protective ‘niches’ to develop radical innovations, whereas the PROTEE method is grounded in the assumption that technological innovations have a better chance of success if made “vulnerable” by subjecting them to risks and oppositions from the outset. Both SNM and PROTEE have, so far, been applied to retrospective case studies. This paper examines their potential effectiveness in the monitoring of real time innovation projects by comparing their conceptualizations of ‘learning’ and ‘experimenting’. It argues that the two approaches can draw upon each other to achieve a more refined conceptualization of learning and experimenting and in dealing with the problem of change and obduracy in the development of innovation projects.     

A neo-Schumpeterian model of health services innovation

The paper presents and empirically applies a neo-Schumpeterian model of innovation capable of studying interactions between service providers, patients and policy makers, and how these complex interactions determine the timing, direction, and success of innovations in the public sector. The model is tested using a case study that traces the introduction and development of ambulatory surgery in a Spanish hospital. The multi-agent model applies the ideas of Schumpeter to services, encompassing Schumpeter's five types of innovation, and re-introducing the policy-maker as a key agent in the innovation process. The model has a number of advantages over previous, reduced form models. First, it can analyse the interactions between the economic, social and political spheres that make up the complex selection environment of innovations. Second, it captures the recursive impact of radical innovations on agents’ competences and preferences, and their relative power. This brings politics, power, and rhetorical persuasion to the fore. Third, it provides an improved set of definitions for radical and incremental innovation. These are not only important for understanding the sources and drivers of innovation, but also for the accurate measurement of innovation.     

Configuration of inclusive innovation systems: Function,agents and capabilities

Social exclusion represents a major challenge to policies advocating sustainable development in the Global South. Although this is a problem not prioritized in the realms of innovation policy focused on economic growth and competitiveness, it is now widely accepted that innovation may contribute significantly to the well-being of the social excluded. However, it is debated whether the innovation system approach is capable of informing transformational innovation policies aiming at overcoming social exclusion and other global challenges. This paper argues that the system innovation approach is adequate for facing this endeavour and identifies key constituent elements of innovation systems which are necessary for inclusion to emerge from the system dynamics. We illustrate the elements of this system configuration drawing upon the case of the appropriation of biorational approaches in pest management and precision agriculture techniques by a group of peasants in a rural village in Colombia. The proposal considers new elements that configure inclusive innovation systems in an agent-based, bottom-up perspective, such as new agents, capabilities, directionalities, and the integration of traditional knowledge with scientific and technology knowledge, elements that enable a new system function. In terms of policy implications, some reflections are made on favouring the sustainability paradigm and promoting inclusive learning processes.     

Analyzing the functional dynamics of technological innovation systems: A scheme of analysis

Various researchers and policy analysts have made empirical studies of innovation systems in order to understand their current structure and trace their dynamics. However, policy makers often experience difficulties in extracting practical guidelines from studies of this kind. In this paper, we operationalize our previous work on a functional approach to analyzing innovation system dynamics into a practical scheme of analysis for policy makers. The scheme is based on previous literature and our own experience in developing and applying functional thinking. It can be used by policy makers not only to identify the key policy issues but also to set policy goals.     

Great expectations: Learning the boundaries of design rights

We present a case study of an increase in design right filings and concurrent design right litigations in an industry that previously had little experience of design right protection. The motives for and outcomes of filing, and how these changed over time are discussed. We go on to explore the events, which offered the decision makers opportunities to update their beliefs about the scope of design right protection. We find that filing motives changed from specific protection goals to freedom to operate over time. We also find that the actors faced several, but sometimes contradictory, learning opportunities. There are two types of learning relating to the usage of design rights: 1) learning the initial scope of protection and 2) learning the dynamism of scope that results from the growing number of designs in the product category. The evidence suggests that the scope of existing design rights is negatively affected by new design right grants. Our findings highlight the essential role of belief formation and updating in innovation activity and intellectual property rights-based competition. We conclude that uncertain design rights and information asymmetries may have fostered entrepreneurial optimism.     

情境学习视角下创客空间构成及运行机制

创客空间以项目为导向,通过提供真实学习情境,激发创客学习兴趣,推动创客间有效协作,提升创客创新创业能力。从情境学习视角出发,界定创客空间内涵,从领域、共同体、实践与工具四方面分析创客空间构成要素,探究构成要素从实践共同体形成期、成长期、成熟期到衰退期的演进过程,研究创客空间如何从动力激发、活动参与、支撑保障、反馈评价等四方面构建有效运行机制,提高创客情境学习效率。以南京创客空间为例进行案例分析,为创客空间创新创业情境构建与设计优化提供借鉴。     

政策引导创新模式下的专利集成失败问题研究

政策是驱动技术创新的一种新动因。在促进技术创新的同时,政策也可能诱发专利竞赛,增加专利丛林密度,甚至阻碍创新成果推广与扩散。为了探索我国科技资助政策是否能够解决专利集成问题,运用案例研究的方法,对“科学仪器重点专项”专利政策进行深入分析。研究发现该专利政策虽然注意到专利集成问题并努力解决,但是忽视了背景专利的集成问题,存在着专利集成失败的风险。为了发挥政策引导创新的作用,建议我国政策制定者事前解决专利集成失败风险。     

Disabled e‐nation: telecommunications,disability, and national policy

This article considers questions of technological change, innovation, and communication from a disability perspective. Using a critical social perspective on disability, we offer an Australian case study to analyse disability in national telecommunications policy. In doing so, we critique the systemic lack of incorporation of disability in national visions, policies, and programmes. Accordingly, we argue for a cohesive, and genuine commitment to incorporating disability considerations in all areas of information and communication technology policy and scholarship.     

草根创新可持续驱动模式探析——来自农民“创客”的依据

草根创新是我国经济增长的新动力。本文通过最大变异抽样,选取了中国10个农民草根创新案例,在扎根理论的基础上,采用质性研究严格归纳法,分析在资源限制条件下创新是怎样产生并且对社会产生影响的效用机制。研究结果表明草根农民“创客”在进行创新的过程中,追求三重底线,不仅能创造经济价值和社会效益,还带来了环境收益,草根农民也能成为创新的重要力量,促进社会的可持续发展。本研究对于政策制定以及创新模式的探索有着重要的借鉴意义。     

The visible hand of cluster policy makers: An analysis of Aerospace Valley (2006-2015) using a place-based network methodology

The paper focuses on cluster policies with particular attention to the role of R&D collaborative incentives in the structuring of knowledge networks in clusters. We disentangle the main network failures in regional innovation systems, and discuss the selection procedures designed by policy makers to foster knowledge collaborations. We draw evidence from the French Aerospace Valley cluster from 2006 to 2015. The case study is based on a dataset of 248 granted research consortia, from which we build 4-cohort knowledge networks that enable us evidencing the evolving structural properties of the cluster over time. We suggest avoiding the bias and limitations of 1 and 2-mode network analysis by developing an original place-based network methodology that emphasizes on structural equivalence and groups’ behaviors. We discuss the results focusing on the convergence degree between the structural properties of the cluster selected by the Program and the policy makers’ objectives. Finally, the methodology allows us to identify the agents of the structural and technological changes observed throughout the period.     

德国风电技术创新集群的空间演化机制分析

近十几年来,创新集群一直是学界和政府部门关注和讨论的热点话题,也日益成为决策者所亲睐的创新政策工具之一。世界各国政府部门纷纷将培育和发展创新集群作为增强国家创新竞争力和保障经济持续增长的重要政策选择。在德国创新集群作为创新活动的重要组织模式被着力推广。本文基于创新集群的视角,聚焦德国风力发电技术创新活动的空间演化过程,并探讨其形成的机制。     

大学新生探究性学习情况的调查与对策研究——以苏州大学为例

“探究性学习”对高校创新性人才的培养具有十分重要的现实意义。中学课程改革强调探究性学习的理念是否为高等教育奠定了扎实的基础呢？本文通过对苏州大学2013级军训期间的832名学生的问卷调查,了解了其探究学习认知、意识与行为能力的现状。研究结果表明,大学新生虽具有一定的探究学习意识态度,但是对探究学习缺乏深入了解且探究学习行为能力欠缺,高等教育开展探究性学习,培养本科生的创新能力、实践能力任重而道远。     

任务导向型创新政策：框架、理论与实践

任务导向型创新政策是为应对重大社会挑战而兴起的新政策范式，已成为许多国家解决“急、难、险、重”等科学问题的系统性政策干预方案。文章围绕任务导向型创新政策的概念内涵、要素构成、主要特征、理论解释与政策实践等不同维度展开全面分析。研究表明，任务导向型创新政策主要由政策目标、政策主体、政策工具和政策过程等要素构成，并具有方向引导、市场创建、协同参与和动态评估等特征。转型失灵理论为任务导向型创新政策干预创新活动的合法性提供了理论解释。现有任务导向型创新政策实践主要聚焦于保障国防安全、实现产业追赶和应对重大社会挑战三个方面。研究可为中国制定和实施任务导向型创新政策提供理论支撑和经验借鉴。     

Regulatory policy as innovation: Constructing rules of engagement for a technological zone of tissue engineering in the European Union

This paper addresses the question of the part that regulation plays in processes of innovation in sectors of technology. The politico-economic phenomenon of ‘Europe’ is partly constituted by regulatory regime-building, and new technologies are one of the major sites of regime-building. A constructionist social theory perspective shows that study of the conflictual processes of regulatory policymaking affords insights into the formation of the rules of engagement that constitute technology domains. Adopting the concept of emergent ‘technological zone’ in preference to industrial ‘sector’ or technoscientific network, the paper presents, using empirical research, a detailed account of the case of the debate and development of regulatory policy for therapeutic tissue engineering in the European Union's policy institutions and stakeholder networks. It describes how the jurisdiction of an emergent zone has been formed through such negotiations, providing a counter-example to the common view that regulation ‘lags behind’ innovation. The analysis takes account particularly of the part played by the malleability of the definition of the material technology itself in such constructive governance processes, and it also suggests various consequences for the array of producers of the technology, for market structuring and for the innovation pathways taken by tissue engineering technology. Concluding, the paper argues that there is conceptual advance to be made by bringing together constructionist social theory with innovation studies approaches that highlight the part played by non-firm, public institutions in shaping innovation ecologies.     

基于复杂社会网络的创新扩散多智能体仿真研究

创新扩散是由潜在采纳者的微观采纳决策所共同涌现出的宏观动力学行为。以复杂社会网络为创新扩散建模载体,通过建立潜在采纳者在社会学习和规范压力双重影响下的创新采纳决策及扩散机制,运用基于多智能体的仿真研究方法,研究微观层面因素是如何影响创新的宏观扩散。研究发现：无标度社会网络下的创新扩散深度最大及扩散速度最快;潜在采纳者的创新信息评价策略会显著地影响创新扩散深度;初始采纳者比例的提高可加快创新扩散速度,但无法持续提高扩散深度;过强或过弱的观念领导者创新性,均不利于创新扩散的深度;不同的初始采纳者类型对创新扩散深度、以及观念领导者创新性的强弱对创新扩散速度的影响取决于社会网络的拓扑结构。研究结果对于制定创新推广策略具有一定的指导意义。     

Evolutionary approaches for sustainable innovation policies: From niche to paradigm?

Fostering technological innovation is considered as an important element of policies towards sustainable development. In the past 10 years, evolutionary policy approaches have been increasingly advocated. For several reasons, they seem well equipped to underpin sustainable innovation policies. They focus on dynamics of change and their drivers, they allow for a substantive perspective on technologies beyond mere input-output relations, taking into account trajectories and different characteristics of innovation, and they are able to describe circumstances under which established technologies might persist even when they are to some extent inferior to their new competitors (lock-in). However, the policy effectiveness of evolutionary approaches in cases in which radical or systemic changes are involved is not yet proven. In this paper we assess the theoretical rationale, instrumental aspects and the coping with policy constraints of three evolutionary policy approaches which have also been used in empirical studies: strategic niche management, transition management and time strategies. Each approach has its strengths and specific problems and all three have to be further developed and tested out but they hold promise for contributing to non-incremental change with economic and environmental benefits, by shaping processes of variation, selection and retention, with the outcomes feeding back into policy. They may also be used in other areas in which innovation direction is important, for instance health care or food.