Sources, Development and Uses of Innovation in Modern Biotechnology

Abstract

This research examines the innovation process that includes sources, development, and uses of innovation in the field of modern biotechnology. Based on existing literature and primary qualitative data collected from 39 young, small American biotechnology firms we show how biotechnology innovations constantly cross boundaries of traditionally separate industries. All three stages of innovation (sourcing, development, and use) involve a variety of actors that represent different fields of science, business, or markets. Previous literature has predominantly focused on the innovation development networks, but our study shows that also the sources of ideas as well as adoption of an innovation are characterized by networks of actors. Consequently, we suggest that biotechnology managers' understanding of innovation processes would benefit from paying attention to the networked nature of sources and uses of innovations, in addition to the collaborative product development process itself.