Cristina Paez-Aviles
University of Barcelona | Spain
Title: Strategies fostering the cross-fertilization of Nanotechnologies to leverage innovation in healthcare
Biography
Biography: Cristina Paez-Aviles
Abstract
The current aim to successfully overcome the valley-of-death for emergent technologies is leading to the reassessment of several priority action lines in technological-based public policies. In this regard, Horizon 2020 is fostering the cross-fertilization of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), considered strategic for the economic growth of Europe. The relevance of this convergent process lies on the improvement or creation of new unique product properties or technology features, which could not have been obtained with a single technology. In the field of healthcare, this scenario could strongly change the healthcare landscape by improving biomedical systems offering personalized, less invasive, smart oriented, and energy harvesting solutions.
The present work analyses several strategies developed in EU-funded nanotechnology projects with healthcare applications in order to identify those characteristics that foster the cross-fertilization of KETs. For that end, the composition and structure of the innovation ecosystem was analysed, as well as the absorptive capacities and dynamic capabilities of five different types of participant organisations. Network and text mining techniques were complemented with interviews of project leaders. Principal findings showed that the degree of clustering of the network as well as the technological diversity of projects are important factors to consider in order to foster the successful cross-fertilization in nano-related projects.
Additionally, it was evidenced that cross-fertilization of KETs is being boosted by organisations that apply of nano-related knowledge in their processes, highlighting the importance of enhancing the capacity to absorb external knowledge, and the ability to integrate and reconfigure this knowledge
and competences in a changing environment. These several contributions have scope to diverse organizations involved in the sector and that aim to foster the interdisciplinary integration of technologies and collaboration in healthcare. This study could also guide policy makers for reshaping and improving nanotechnology related priority lines and health economic policies.
Recent Publications
- Carnabuci, G., & Operti, E. (2013). Where do firms’ recombinant capabilities come from? Intraorganizational networks, knowledge, and firms’ ability to innovate through technological recombination. Strategic Management Journal, 34(13), 1591–1613. doi:10.1002/smj.2084
- Maine, E., Thomas, V. J., & Utterback, J. (2014). Radical innovation from the confluence of technologies: Innovation management strategies for the emerging nanobiotechnology industry. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 32, 1–25. doi:10.1016/j.jengtecman.2013.10.007
- Páez-Avilés, C., Van Rijnsoever, F. J., Juanola-Feliu, E., & Samitier, J. (2017). Multi-disciplinarity breeds diversity: the influence of innovation project characteristics on diversity creation in nanotechnology. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 1–24. doi:10.1007/s10961-016-9553-9
- Pandza, K., Wilkins, T. A., & Alfoldi, E. A. (2011). Collaborative diversity in a nanotechnology innovation system: Evidence from the EU Framework Programme. Technovation, 31(9), 476–489. doi:10.1016/j.technovation.2011.05.003
- Van Rijnsoever, F. J., Van den Berg, J. C. J. ., Koch, J., & Hekkert, M. P. (2015). Smart innovation policy: How network position and project composition affect the diversity of an emerging technology. Research Policy, 44(5), 1094–1107. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2014.12.004