System or Ecosystem: A critique on Iran's photovoltaic technological innovation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Management and Economics Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The importance of innovation and technology development and understanding the complexities of these processes have led numerous researchers to present and develop different theories during the recent years. One of the pervasive and successful theories of the past years in the field of innovation and technology studies is the approach of innovation systems. The shortcomings and weaknesses of the innovation system approach and its inadequacy in analyzing the complexity of the innovation process and technology development became one of the drivers for presenting the theory of innovation ecosystems. Despite the number of studies, in none of the presented articles, a specific technological innovation system was criticized from an ecosystem perspective. In this study, the photovoltaic TIS of Iran is criticized from an ecosystem perspective by using governance changes of innovation ecosystems. According to the results of this study, the approach of the TIS does not provide effective policies to overcome the challenges in innovation systems due to its detailed and linear view of technology development. Also, the approach of TIS does not pay attention to the co-creation of value and the evolution and co-evolution of actors and the innovation system, and it does not pay attention to the diversity of actors and the relationship between them. The one-dimensional view of TIS does not have the ability to monitor the monocentricity or polycentricity of the innovation system and the functional redundancy of the system, and with insufficient indicators, it makes mistakes in identifying the development stage of the system.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

- مراجع
[1]  S. Ghazinoory, M. Amiri, S. Ghazinoori, and P. Alizadeh, "Designing innovation policy mix: a multi-objective decision-making approach," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 365-385, 2019, doi: 10.1080/10438599.2018.1500115.
[2]  R. Hosseinalizadeh, A. Arshadi Khamseh, and M. M. Akhlaghi, "A multi-objective and multi-period model to design a strategic development program for biodiesel fuels," Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, vol. 36, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2019.100545.
[3]  M. M. Akhlaghi, F. Abbasizade, A. Shafiei Alavijeh, R. HosseinAlizadeh, and M. M. AmirAbadi Farahani, "Investigation on opportunities and challenges of cross-border electricity trade for Iran," Scientia Iranica, 2019.
[4]  S. O'Negro, V. Vasseur, W. G. Van Sark, and M. Hekkert, "Solar eclipse: the rise and ‘dusk’of the Dutch PV innovation system," International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, vol. 12, pp. 135-157, 2012.
[5]  R. Adner, "Match Your Innovation Strategy to Your Innovation Ecosystem," Harvards Business Review, 2006.
[6]  L. A. d. V. Gomes, A. L. F. Facin, M. S. Salerno, and R. K. Ikenami, "Unpacking the innovation ecosystem construct: Evolution, gaps and trends," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 136, pp. 30-48, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2016.11.009.
[7]  R. Adner and R. Kapoor, "Value creation in innovation ecosystems: how the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations," Strategic Management Journal, vol. 31, pp. 306-333, 2010.
[8]  S. Rinkinen and V. Harmaakorpi, "Business and innovation ecosystems: innovation policy implications," International Journal of Public Policy, vol. 15, no. 3/4, 2019, doi: 10.1504/ijpp.2019.103038.
[9]  O. Dedehayir, S. J. Mäkinen, and J. Roland Ortt, "Roles during innovation ecosystem genesis: A literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 136, pp. 18-29, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2016.11.028.
[10] Z. Chen, S. M. Dahlgaard-Park, and L. Yu, "Service quality management and ecosystem theory," Total Quality Management and Business Excellence, vol. 25, pp. 1190-1205, 2014.
[11] J. Luo, "Architecture and evolvability of innovation ecosystems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 136, pp. 132-144, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2017.06.033.
[12] N. Faissal Bassis and F. Armellini, "Systems of innovation and innovation ecosystems: a literature review in search of complementarities," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 1053-1080, 2018, doi: 10.1007/s00191-018-0600-6.
[13] C. Amitrano, M. Tregua, T. Russo Spena, and F. Bifulco, "On Technology in Innovation Systems and Innovation-Ecosystem Perspectives: A Cross-Linking Analysis," Sustainability, vol. 10, no. 10, 2018, doi: 10.3390/su10103744.
[14] X. Zheng and Y. Cai, "Transforming Innovation Systems into Innovation Ecosystems: The Role of Public Policy," Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 12, 2022, doi: 10.3390/su14127520.
[15] A. Bergek, S. Jacobsson, B. Carlsson, and A. Rickne, "Analyzing the functional dynamics of technological innovation systems: A scheme of analysis," Research Policy, vol. 37, pp. 407-429, 2008.
[16] M. P. Hekkert, R. A. A. Suurs, S. O. Negro, S. Kuhlmann, and R. E. H. M. Smits, "Functions of innovation systems: A new approach for analysing technological change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 413-432, 2007, doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2006.03.002.
[17] J. F. Moore, "Predators and prey: a new ecology of competition," Harvard Business Review, vol. 71, pp. 75-86, 1993.
[18] M. Iansiti and R. Levien, "Strategy as Ecology," Harvard Business Review, vol. 82, pp. 1-11, 2004.
[19] A. Suominen, M. Seppanen, and O. Dedehayir, "A bibliometric review on innovation systems and ecosystems: A research agenda," European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 22, pp. 335–360, 2019.
[20] O. Granstrand and M. Holgersson, "Innovation ecosystems: A conceptual review and a new definition," Technovation, vol. 90-91, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.technovation.2019.102098.
[21] M. Esmailzadeh, S. Noori, A. Aliahmadi, H. Nouralizadeh, and M. Bogers, "A Functional Analysis of Technological Innovation Systems in Developing Countries: An Evaluation of Iran’s Photovoltaic Innovation System," Sustainability, vol. 12, no. 5, 2020, doi: 10.3390/su12052049.
[22] Y. f. M. Rahimi rad Z., Mir emadi T., Madhoshi M. , "Analysis of Photovoltaic Solar System Technological Innovation System in Iran," Innovation Management, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 1-28, 2018.
[23] A. A. Sadabadi, Z. Rahimi Rad, and H. Azimzadeh, "Photovoltaic technological innovation system (PV TIS) in Iran: identifying barriers, incentives, dynamics and developing policies," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, pp. 1-24, 2022, doi: 10.1080/09640568.2022.2043837.
[24] Z. Rahimi Rad, A. A. Sadabadi, and H. Azimzadeh, "Explaining the rise and fall of the photovoltaic technological innovation system in Iran," Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, vol. 41, no. 5, 2022, doi: 10.1002/ep.13851.
[25] "Solar Energy technology development National Roadmap," Ministry of Energy of Iran, Niroo Research Institute, 2015.
[26] M. e. T. Dehghan Ashkezari M. J., Ramezanpour Nargesi Gh., "The Assessment of International Sanctions on Photovoltaic Innovation System of Iran.," Journal of Science & Technology Policy, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 63-76, 2019.
[27] M. Esmailzadeh, S. Noori, H. Nouralizadeh, and M. L. A. M. Bogers, "Investigating macro factors affecting the technological innovation system (TIS): A case study of Iran's photovoltaic TIS," Energy Strategy Reviews, vol. 32, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.esr.2020.100577.
[28] Y. f. M. Rahimi rad Z., Miremadi T., Madhoshi M., "Identification and Analysis of Social-Technical Transition Barriers to Photovoltaic Solar Systems Focusing on Fossil Fuel Regime," Journal of Technology Development Management, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 49-77, 2018.
[29] R. Suurs, " Motors of sustainable innovation. Towards a theory on the dynamics of systems in contexts: Conceptualizing contextual structures and interaction dynamics," Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, vol. 16, pp. 51-64, 2009.
[30] IRENA, "RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION COSTS IN 2021," 2021.
[31] T. Könnölä, V. Eloranta, T. Turunen, and A. Salo, "Transformative governance of innovation ecosystems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 173, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121106.
[32] the Law of the Sixth 5-year Development Plan, 2017.
[33] J. Markard and B. Truffer, "Technological innovation systems and the multi-level perspective: towards an integrated framework," Research Policy, vol. 37, no. 4, 2008.
 
Journal of Renewable and New Energy
Volume 11, Issue 1 - Serial Number 21
February 2024
Pages 100-109

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 04 June 2023
  • Revise Date: 10 July 2023
  • Accept Date: 30 July 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics