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Analysing indicators of industry convergence in four probiotics innovation value chains

  • The relevance of cross-industry innovation has increased in recent decades with a growing number of inter-industry fields emerging on the borderline between formerly distinct industries. The aim of this paper is to analyse industry convergence in four probiotics innovation value chains based on the following indicators: cross-industry relationships along the innovation value chain as well as knowledge, technological, regulatory and competence convergence. In so doing, the study delivers a framework of indicators for scrutinising industry convergence processes. In order to identify industry convergence, we analyse companies in the converging area of foods and drugs based on products containing the four bacteria strains: Lactobacillus caseii DN 114001, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Hence, the commercial availability of the strains on the market serves as a selection criterion. Altogether 12 companies stemming from four industrial backgrounds, food and agriculture (5), pharmaceutics (5), chemistry (1) and personal care (1), as well as one research organisation are identified. Cross-industry relationships occur along the innovation value chains of the four strains. Clear signs of knowledge and technological convergence are found as companies are not only publishing and patenting in the usual area of their own industrial field but also in the area of other industrial fields. Companies with different industrial backgrounds show activities in obtaining health claims indicating regulatory convergence. Companies' competence bases seem to converge as companies with different industrial backgrounds are involved in acquisitions, licencing agreements and strategic alliances (competence convergence). We contribute to the existing body of literature by assessing industry convergence from an innovation value chain perspective with a set of indicators reflecting the intensity of industry convergence. This framework of indicators stemming from literature has not yet been used in a combined comprehensive analysis. Furthermore, we tried to show the characteristics of strategic types driving industry convergence in probiotics.

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Metadaten
Author:Sabine BornkesselORCiD, Stefanie BröringORCiD, S.W.F. (Onno) Omta
Title (English):Analysing indicators of industry convergence in four probiotics innovation value chains
URN:urn:nbn:de:bsz:959-opus-39567
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2014.x011
ISSN:1875-0931
ISSN:1569-1829
Parent Title (English):Journal on Chain and Network Science
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of Completion:2014
Release Date:2023/04/20
Tag:Cross-industry innovation; Functional ingredient; Industry convergence; Probiotics
Volume:14
Issue:3
First Page:213
Last Page:229
Faculties:Fakultät AuL
DDC classes:600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 610 Medizin, Gesundheit
Review Status:Veröffentlichte Fassung/Verlagsversion
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International