Technological agglomeration and the emergence of clusters and networks in nanotechnology

Based on the analysis of two clusters in nanotechnologies (MESA+ in the Netherlands and Minatec in Grenoble in France), the paper examines the emergence and effects of technological agglomeration. The social and technical arrangements of a regional centre for nanotechnology both enable and constrain the ongoing activities and research lines that can be followed. Technology platforms and their co-location are a pre-requisite for nanotechnology research and agglomeration of such platforms are both a means and outcome for institutional entrepreneurs to mobilise resources, build networks and construct regional centres of excellence in nanotechnology. Technological agglomeration shapes the networks that evolve and leads to the convergence of scientific disciplines.TECHNOLOGICAL AGGLOMERATION;TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM;CLUSTER;DISTRICT; CONVERGING TECHNOLOGY;MULTILEVEL ACTIVITIES

The role of regional institutional entrepreneurs in the emergence of clusters in nanotechnologies

In the case of new technologies like nanotechnology, institutional entrepreneurs appear who have to act at different levels (organizational, regional, national) at the same time. We reconstruct, in some detail, the history of two cases, in Grenoble and in Twente/Netherlands. An intriguing finding is that institutional entrepreneurs build their environment before changing their institution. They first mobilize European support to convince local and national levels before actual cluster building occurs. Only later will there be reactions against any de-institutionalisation caused at the base location. The Dutch case shows another notable finding: when mobilizing support the entrepreneur will have to agree to further conditions, and then ends up in a different situation (a broad national consortium) than originally envisaged (the final cluster involved a collaboration of Twente with two other centres). In general, an institutional entrepreneur attempts to create momentum, and when this is achieved, he has to follow rather than lead it.INSTITUTIONAL ENTREPRENEUR; DEINSTITUTIONALISATION; CLUSTER; LOCATION; EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES; PROMISE; NANOTECHNOLOGY

Indications of Socio-Economic Impacts of Nanotechnologies: The Approach of Impact Pathways

International audienc

Multi-path mapping for alignment strategies in emerging science and technologies

Roadmapping serves both short and long term (strategic) alignment in science and technology (S&T). Forecasts of the likely future development of S&T are generated; then research and development (R&D) efforts necessary to realize various goals are backcast. But for new and emerging S&T this trusted principle does not work: the likely products are not articulated yet. A promising approach however is building mapping tools based on underlying patterns and indicators of the dynamics of emergence. This paper discusses, based on a first round application in the field of micro and nanotechnologies for single cell analysis, the methodology of such a new approach. The work is linked to a programme of Future oriented Technology Assessment (FTA) activities coordinated within a European nanotechnology research network. Our paper addresses well-known lacunae of alignment tools from the viewpoints of the path creation/dependency literatures. We then apply these insights to lab-on-a-chip devices for cell analysis. Dynamics of emerging paths can be used to articulate a future structured in terms of prospective innovation chains and potential paradigms. We demonstrate a plausible variety of paths, which provides a broader set of strategic choices. This enables management of expectations and hype by which emerging S&T are characterised, and leads to alignment of actors. Our tool can be applied in strategic management of research and R&D at the level of science-to-industry networks. These are becoming an important element in European S&T policy but will only be successful if ways are found for closing gaps in the innovation chain

[Le rôle des entrepreneurs institutionnels régionaux dans l'émergence de regroupements d'entreprises de nanotechnologies]

International audienceDans le cas de nouvelles technologies telles que les nanotechnologies, les entrepreneurs institutionnels doivent agir à différents niveaux (organisationnel, régional et national) simultanément. Les auteurs décrivent le cas deux localisations : Grenoble (France) et Twente (Pays-Bas). Dans un premier temps, les entrepreneurs mobilisent les aides européennes pour convaincre les instances locales et nationales avant que le regroupement ait lieu. Ils ne réagiront qu'ultérieurement à la "dé-institutionalisation" causée par l'effet localisation des entreprises

A game with rules in the making - how the high probability of waiting games in nanomedicine is being mitigated through distributed regulation and responsible innovation

The potential benefits of nanotechnologies in healthcare are widely expected to be enormous and a considerable amount of investment is already pouring into public research in this area. These high expectations of benefits are coupled with uncertainty surrounding the potential risks of the prospective products containing nanomaterials, in addition to concerns about the adequacy of regulatory oversight. These challenges add another level of uncertainty for those deciding to invest in nanotechnology R&D and threaten to impede product development and commercialisation. Nanotechnology in healthcare (often labelled as nanomedicine) presents a situation where waiting games are a strong possibility; however, waiting games have been avoided (so far) through the unlocking of the dominant regulation regime. This paper describes how an innovation impasse in nanomedicine could have ensued if the traditional wait and watch strategies of legislators and regulators had been followed. We describe how waiting games were avoided through the opening up and distribution of regulatory approaches

Enemies of the future? Questioning the regimes of promising in emerging science and technology

International audienceThis editorial introduces the basic idea and content of the special section ‘Enemies of the future? Questioning the regimes of promising in emerging science and technology’. It sheds light on how visions and stories of technological futures are being produced and, in combination, have stabilized into ‘regimes of promising’ that shape emerging technoscientific domains and guide research, innovation, and governance within these domains. The special section zooms in to particular illustrative instances that reveal the dynamics of the dominant regime of promising and also reveal how they are breaking down and in some cases being replaced by alternatives. The purpose of this special section is to show the importance of regimes of promising for research and innovation policy and to stimulate further discussions on alternative regimes of promising and their ramifications

[Le rôle des entrepreneurs institutionnels régionaux dans l'émergence de regroupements d'entreprises de nanotechnologies]

International audienceDans le cas de nouvelles technologies telles que les nanotechnologies, les entrepreneurs institutionnels doivent agir à différents niveaux (organisationnel, régional et national) simultanément. Les auteurs décrivent le cas deux localisations : Grenoble (France) et Twente (Pays-Bas). Dans un premier temps, les entrepreneurs mobilisent les aides européennes pour convaincre les instances locales et nationales avant que le regroupement ait lieu. Ils ne réagiront qu'ultérieurement à la "dé-institutionalisation" causée par l'effet localisation des entreprises