Innovation eco-systems can be described as complex adaptive systems, in which many actors are leveraging their resources and capabilities and creating new ones. Interacting with each other at multiple levels, to allow innovative solutions to emerge, in very short time.
However, the use of complexity science (and of the related methodologies) in the field of innovation management is still very limited.
The track: “Managing innovation ecosystems as complex adaptive systems”, is organized in a workshop format, where participants will be given the time to actively comment on the presented research and the potential for it to offer added value when applied to R&D and innovation management.
Raffaella Manzini, LIUC Università Cattaneo is co-chair for this track in the R&D Management Conference 2024, it aims to explore if complexity science and its related methodologies can provide insights for the development of new management support tools and guidelines.
We asked Raffaella about her interests in this subject.
What do you think are the most disruptive influences impacting developments in your track?
The approach of complexity science could revolutionize the models and methods we use in studying and teaching Innovation and R&D management. And it would be more coherent with the aim to make technological innovation able to effectively and positively contribute to the grand challenges
Can you describe some recent findings in this area that are of interest to you personally?
We are observing innovation ecosystems acting as complex-adaptive system. The reaction of companies to the COVID pandemic, the transition of companies towards circular instead of linear models, are examples of this. Hence, we need to complement traditional approaches to R&D and innovation management with the complexity science approach, more suitable for complex adaptive systems.
If someone was new to this topic what would you suggest they read to get a quick overview of the issues?
- Poutanen, P., Soliman, W., & Ståhle, P. (2016). The complexity of innovation: an assessment and review of the complexity perspective. European Journal of Innovation Management, 19(2), 189-213.
- Dougherty, D. (2017). Taking advantage of emergence for complex innovation eco-systems. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 3(3), 14.
R&D Management Conference 2024:
Transforming industries through technology
KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm,
17-19 June 2024
Workshop chairs:
Raffaella Manzini, LIUC Università Cattaneo
Linda Ponta, Università di Genova
Cristina Ponsiglione, Università di Napoli Federico II
Andreas Pyka, University of Hohenheim
Bennie Vermeulen, Univeristy Bremen
Giovanna Ferraro, Università di Roma Tor Vergata
