Treiber und Mechanismen der Entstehung und Diffusion von radikalen Innovationen

Innovation has become a key factor for economic growth. However, actors cannot rely only on incremental improvements but also need radical innovations now and then in order to stay competitive. These radical novelties may provide a sustainable competitive advantage and thus long-term economic growth. Thus, due to its catalysing role, radical innovations receive attention by policy makers. In spite of ample research on the drivers of innovation processes, the specific mechanisms underlying the emergence and diffusion of radical innovations remain unresolved. This dissertation takes a first step in closing this research gap. Applying an innovation systems approach, the thesis focuses the analysis on the actors and their relations to each other within different boundaries what, put together, forms the central motor for the emergence and diffusion of radical innovations in an innovation system. The present work highlights that several actors (e.g. patenting organisations, technological frontier firms, universities) are important players regarding radical innovation processes within an innovation system. Patenting firms need certain internal knowledge capabilities for an efficient emergence and diffusion of radical innovations. Moreover, public agencies providing R&D funding play a significant role in supporting radical innovation processes. In terms of relations, this dissertation argues that specific regional context conditions and R&D collaboration enhance interactive learning processes aiming at radical novelty within an innovation system. In particular, cognitive relatedness to regional frontier firms is essential to create radical novelty. With regard to the diffusion of radical innovations, it is important for firms to be related to the overall regional knowledge base. R&D collaboration especially increases the generation of radical innovations when building bridges across boundaries such as organisation types, industrial sectors, regions and regional clusters. Finally, the present work provides relevant implications for future research and derives ramifications for policy makers and managers