Evolution of innovation system literature: Intellectual bases and emerging trends

Publication date: September 2019Source: Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Volume 146Author(s): Ebrahim Souzanchi Kashani, Saeed RoshaniAbstractThe evolution of innovation system literature is scrutinized to delineate the conceptual trends over the past 30 years. We applied the Sigma index which is supposed to include not only the frontier contributions in the field but also the intellectual bases conveying transformative concepts. Our examination shows that after the establishment of the National Innovation System (NIS) as a principal framework, Regional IS literature emerged as a main branch during the period of 2002–2007, while Technological IS developed as the second main branch from 2007 to 2012. Surprisingly, Sectoral IS has not yet generated a separate constellation, whereas the period after 2012 mainly witnessed the emergence of Triple Helix and Agricultural IS as two new branches. The core of the literature has become classified into persistent intellectual bases (e.g. Lundvall 1992 and Nelson, 1993), diminishing pioneers (e.g. Freeman 1987; Edquist, 1997), emerging works (e.g. Hekkert et al., 2008; Bathelt et al. 2004) and fluctuating others (e.g. Carlsson, 1991; Malerba 2002). Conceptual implications are discussed at the end.

Source: Technological Forecasting and Social Change - May 29, 2019 Category: Science Source Type: research