Positioning intermediary organisations in innovation

Abstract

Abstract: Intermediary organisations are important in innovation systems and their contributions seem to increase. The central ambition of this paper is to understand and analyse the position of intermediaries within innovation networks. We use so-called positioning theory, where roles are outcomes of performative interaction. The basic concepts of the analysis are ‘position’, ‘story line’ and ‘speech act’. We trace how intermediaries position themselves in three empirical domains (agriculture, health and energy) and how others respond to such positioning. We conclude that positions are not given a priori, but depend upon rhetorical strategies, funding and dominant storylines. Keywords: intermediary organizations, positioning theory, innovation policy, innovation dynamics