A framework for analysis of multi-mode interaction among technologies with examples from the history of alternative transport fuels in Sweden
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2011

The relationship between technologies is a salient feature of the literature on technical change and terms like 'dominant design' and 'technology lock-in' are part of the standard vocabulary and put competition among technologies in focus. The aim of this paper is to provide an account of the wide range of interaction modes beyond competition that is prevalent in transition processes and to develop a conceptual framework to facilitate more detailed and nuanced descriptions of technology interaction. Besides competition, we identify five other basic modes of interaction: symbiosis, neutralism, parasitism, commensalism and amensalism. Further, we describe interaction as overlapping value chains. Defining a technology as a socio-technical system extending in material, organisational and conceptual dimensions allows for an even more detailed description of interaction. The conceptual framework is tested on and illustrated by a case study of interaction among alternative transport fuels in Sweden 1974-2004. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

economy

transitions

evolution

innovation systems

multilevel perspective

Technological innovation system

Technology selection

Symbiosis

electricity

models

Competition

Lock-in

Transition

patterns

climate

dynamics

Författare

Björn Sandén

Chalmers, Energi och miljö, Environmental Systems Analysis

Karl Hillman

Högskolan i Gävle

Research Policy

0048-7333 (ISSN)

Vol. 40 3 403-414

Ämneskategorier

Övrig annan teknik

DOI

10.1016/j.respol.2010.12.005

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Senast uppdaterat

2019-01-09