"Low -Technology”: A Forgotten Sector in Innovation Policy

Authors

  • Hartmut Hirsch-Kreinsen TU Dortmund

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242008000100002

Keywords:

low-technology industrial innovations, innovation system, industrial development

Abstract

Abstract In the discussions on research and technology policy focuses mainly on the dynamic innovation of new technologies. Long term growth, competitive advantages on the world market and employment effects are primarily perceived in new high-tech products. According to this perspective the question as to the future of industrial sectors that produce mature and conventional standard products is not raised at all. Such industrial sectors are, following well-known OECD categories, regarded as "low-tech". However, there are a number of convincing examples of sectors and companies that have been successfully inno-vating low tech products in “high-tech countries” of the European Union.The paper focuses on low-tech companies analysing their innovative capabilities and developmental perspectives. The argumentation is based on results of a recently finished research project on the developmental perspectives of low-tech industries funded by the European Commission (project title: „Policy and Innovation in Low-tech Indus-tries in Europe – PILOT“).

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Author Biography

Hartmut Hirsch-Kreinsen, TU Dortmund

Professor

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Published

2008-09-14

How to Cite

Hirsch-Kreinsen, H. (2008). "Low -Technology”: A Forgotten Sector in Innovation Policy. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 3(3), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242008000100002

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Section

Research Articles