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| Author: | Bröring, S. Cloutier, L.M. Leker, J. |
| Title: | The front end of innovation in an era of industry convergence: evidence from nutraceuticals and functional foods |
| Journal: | R & D Management
2006 : NOV, VOL. 36:5, p. 487-498 |
| Index terms: | food industry pharmaceutical industry R&D innovation |
| Language: | eng |
| Abstract: | Industry convergence (hereafter as: cvrg.) appears to be a pervasive phenomenon leading to the emergence of inter-industry segments. An example of crvg. can be found in the nutraceuticals and functional foods sector, emerging at the boundary btw. the food and pharmaceutical industries. There is crvg. in technologies and in demand structures: consumers try to satisfy different needs in one transaction. This paper examines how actors from different industry-specific resource backgrounds can engage in an innovative activity requiring new technological and marketing competences. It is asked how organizations with different R&D competences can seize opportunities for innovation emerging from crvg. Based on primary data collected from 54 R&D projects of a nutraceutical cluster, it is shown that there are different approaches of front end (here as: f-e.) decision making (as: d-m.): while some firms follow existing processes for f-e. d-m., and others leave existing paths needing partners to fill in gaps already identified at the f-e. of innovation. |
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