Title: Technological innovation strategies in converging industries

Authors: Matti Karvonen, Tuomo Kassi, Rahul Kapoor

Addresses: Technology Business Research Center, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20 FI-53851, Lappeenranta, Finland. ' Technology Business Research Center, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20 FI-53851, Lappeenranta, Finland. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, P.O. 211004 Allahabad, India

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to analyse how industry convergence and technological trajectories affect the evolution of industries. The paper identifies different convergence types and utilises the framework to analyse the evolution of RFID markets. Research material is based on the patents and financial data of the main RFID industry players. RFID companies were characterised into four different clusters under the following headings: vertically integrated players, upstream focused players, downstream players, and paper and printing companies. The results reveal that the emerging industry is in the early stages of evolution where market dynamics are driven by complementary technological convergence. Patent and market data analysis also reveals that the previously distinct technological trajectories of the industries have started to overlap and merge to form new products based on integrated technologies. In parallel with convergence a restructuring of industries is taking place in the near future.

Keywords: technological innovation; technological trajectories; convergence; converging industries; industry evolution; patents; intellectual property; financial data; RFID; radio frequency identification; vertical integration; vertically integrated players; upstream focused players; downstream players; paper industry; printing industry; emerging industries; market dynamics; data analysis; new product development; NPD; overlapping trajectories; integrated technologies; industrial restructuring; company information; business innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2010.034378

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2010 Vol.4 No.5, pp.391 - 410

Published online: 02 Aug 2010 *

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