TY - JOUR
T1 - Conceptual definition of technology emergence
T2 - A long journey from philosophy of science to science policy
AU - Burmaoglu, Serhat
AU - Sartenaer, Olivier
AU - Porter, Alan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/11
Y1 - 2019/11
N2 - Technology and innovation policy has been the core of economic development since the 1950s. Moreover, the increasing rate of technological developments allowed policy and strategy makers to think about technology emergence for proactive planning. In this sense, technological emergence became popular with different applications and foresight studies. However, even though it is a popular concept in the literature, an accepted formal definition is lacking. In this study, we propose a definition based on review as; “Technological emergence is a cyclic process in highly creative scientific networks that demonstrates qualitative novelty, qualitative synergy, trend irregularity, high functionality, and continuity aspects in a specified time frame”. We discuss and explain the definition by demonstrating it in a multi-dimensional model to make it understandable and applicable for future studies. Finally, we discuss it with existing literature and propose future implications.
AB - Technology and innovation policy has been the core of economic development since the 1950s. Moreover, the increasing rate of technological developments allowed policy and strategy makers to think about technology emergence for proactive planning. In this sense, technological emergence became popular with different applications and foresight studies. However, even though it is a popular concept in the literature, an accepted formal definition is lacking. In this study, we propose a definition based on review as; “Technological emergence is a cyclic process in highly creative scientific networks that demonstrates qualitative novelty, qualitative synergy, trend irregularity, high functionality, and continuity aspects in a specified time frame”. We discuss and explain the definition by demonstrating it in a multi-dimensional model to make it understandable and applicable for future studies. Finally, we discuss it with existing literature and propose future implications.
KW - Concept
KW - Emergence
KW - Emerging technology
KW - Review
KW - Technological emergence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064176761&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.04.002
DO - 10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.04.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85064176761
SN - 0160-791X
VL - 59
JO - Technology in Society
JF - Technology in Society
M1 - 101126
ER -