Title: Convergence in functional food: technological diversification and path-dependent learning

Authors: Paveena Lalitnorasate; Kumiko Miyazaki

Addresses: Graduate School of Innovation Management, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan ' Graduate School of Innovation Management, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract: Functional food (FF) has recently become an emerging trend due to the change in life-style and demand for health-promoting food. This trend has opened up new market opportunities, which are not limited to only firms in the food sector. It pertains the characteristics of an industrial convergence, which involves knowledge and capabilities across an industrial border to converge. This work uses the example of Japanese food firms that have participated in FF in Japan (alias FOSHU) to explore the process of learning in food firms concerning FF development. By analysing the patenting activities, firms' competence and patterns of learning were drawn. The results indicate the importance of core competence, technological diversification and their effects on path-dependent learning pattern.

Keywords: functional food; FOSHU; heath foods; path dependence; learning patterns; food industry; patent analysis; core competences; industry convergence; technological diversification; path-dependent learning; Japan; patenting activities; firm competences; patents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2016.077269

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2016 Vol.11 No.2, pp.140 - 163

Received: 16 Jul 2015
Accepted: 28 Jan 2016
Published online: 25 Jun 2016 *

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