Title: Analysing emerging innovation systems: a functions approach to foresight

Authors: Floortje Alkemade, Chris Kleinschmidt, Marko Hekkert

Addresses: Department of Innovation Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80115, NL-3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. ' KEMA Consultancy Europe, Power Generation and Sustainables, NL-6800 ET Arnhem, The Netherlands. ' Department of Innovation Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80115, NL-3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract: The success of sustainable innovations depends in a large part on their environment, the Innovation System (IS). Insight into the structure and dynamics of the IS is thus of crucial importance in foresight studies and policy analysis. The analytical framework outlined in this paper allows us to study relations between the components, the structure and the functionality of the IS resulting in increased insight in (future) system behaviour and performance. Furthermore, mapping the (actor-independent) functions of the IS allows us to compare different cases, enabling timely and adequate policy measures through improved foresight. The application of our framework to the California Wind Energy Innovation System (CAWEIS) shows a relation between system structure and performance and gives us insight in system dynamics.

Keywords: foresight; functionality; innovation systems; innovation policy; emerging technologies; wind energy; system dynamics; sustainable innovations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2007.011622

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2007 Vol.3 No.2, pp.139 - 168

Published online: 06 Dec 2006 *

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