How general are general purpose technologies? Evidence from nano-, bio- and ICT-technologies in Finland

Arbeitspapier

General purpose technologies (GPT) have a significant impact on economic activity through radical technological change and wide technological diffusion. This paper aims to address the generality of technologies associated with the GPT concept. Information and communications technologies (ICT), biotechnology and nanotechnology are viewed as existing or potential general purpose technologies, but there is a lack of empirical evidence of their generality. This paper addresses the argument by using patent, industry and company level data from Finland. The results provide evidence that ICT, as expected, is a GPT. Nanotechnology shows signs of being potentially widely applicable, but for biotechnology the channels of technological diffusion seem to be fewer and more focused on areas where Finnish companies are less active. The results and discussion are also reflected on the newly formed innovation policy instrument in Finland - SHOKs (Strategic centres for science, technology and innovation), which aim to direct a large share of the Finnish public R&D subsidies towards more demand-based and incumbent- driven innovation activity.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Series: ETLA Discussion Papers ; No. 1208

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Wirtschaft ; Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights: General ; Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes ; Technological Change: Government Policy
• Thema: general purpose technology ; technology diffusion ; science-based technology ; ICT ; biotechnology ; nanotechnology ; SHOK ; Informationstechnik ; Biotechnologie ; Nanotechnologie ; Technischer Fortschritt ; Innovationsdiffusion ; Innovationspolitik ; Finnland

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Nikulainen, Tuomo ; Kulvik, Martti
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA)
• (wo): Helsinki
• (wann): 2009

Weitere Informationen

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/44589
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 10.03.2025, 11:41 MEZ