The knowledge base of the bioeconomy 193
knowledge bases and learning contexts also helps to define the direction of
innovation. The knowledge that researchers and other agents have (human
capital) at any given point is integral to the emergence of innovative new
fields, and the way the knowledge is organised (organisational capital) is
instrumental in shaping the trajectory that innovation takes in contexts such
as the bioeconomy.
10.3 Approach
We consider the bioeconomy to be a formative meta- sector as it cuts across
several sectors and industries. Furthermore, as Chapter 2 points out, the
notion of the bioeconomy is multifaceted and includes three visions. For
some, the bioeconomy is about biotechnology and the promises of breakthroughs in this area (the bio- technology vision). Some see it as being about
sustainability and ecological processes that, for example, will support biodiversity and prevent monocultures and soil degradation (bio- ecology vision).
For others, the bioeconomy is about advances in resource- based sciences
more generally and how different fields can be coordinated through new
research to improve how organic resources are used (the bio- resource vision).
The bio- resource vision raises a number of questions for us, including
(i) whether the underlying knowledge is firmly based on a specific field of
science or whether it draws on a wider range of knowledge from different
areas, and (ii) whether development is linked to specific lead entities such as
universities or whether knowledge creation is more distributed. We argue
that it is important to get a clearer idea of the disciplines, sources and the
organisation of new knowledge in the bio- based economy. A better understanding of what knowledge the bioeconomy builds upon can be useful in
several ways: it can help to clarify the boundaries of this economy; it can help
consolidate the population of entities that see their own missions in terms of
the bioeconomy; it can help identify knowledge strengths and gaps; and it
can help inform future public policy interventions, etc.
This chapter undertakes a systematic empirical analysis of the sources and
organisation of knowledge production in the bioeconomy. It has a specific
focus; namely publicly financed projects in the area of research and innovation activity for food and bio- based industries. Norway is among the OECD
countries that have earmarked public funding to promote research and
innovation of the bioeconomy. The argument is that publicly funded research
and innovation programmes are important instruments to promote the creation, dissemination and accumulation of new knowledge in the area of societal grand challenges (see e.g. Mowery, Nelson & Martin, 2010).
We use information from one of Norway’s key programmes in this area,
the Bionær Programme, to learn more about the knowledge system of the
bioeconomy. As mentioned in the introduction, we will explore two dimensions of knowledge creation and accumulation. The first involves what sorts
of actors are involved and how their work is organised. This level, which we
knowledge bases and learning contexts also helps to define the direction of
innovation. The knowledge that researchers and other agents have (human
capital) at any given point is integral to the emergence of innovative new
fields, and the way the knowledge is organised (organisational capital) is
instrumental in shaping the trajectory that innovation takes in contexts such
as the bioeconomy.
10.3 Approach
We consider the bioeconomy to be a formative meta- sector as it cuts across
several sectors and industries. Furthermore, as Chapter 2 points out, the
notion of the bioeconomy is multifaceted and includes three visions. For
some, the bioeconomy is about biotechnology and the promises of breakthroughs in this area (the bio- technology vision). Some see it as being about
sustainability and ecological processes that, for example, will support biodiversity and prevent monocultures and soil degradation (bio- ecology vision).
For others, the bioeconomy is about advances in resource- based sciences
more generally and how different fields can be coordinated through new
research to improve how organic resources are used (the bio- resource vision).
The bio- resource vision raises a number of questions for us, including
(i) whether the underlying knowledge is firmly based on a specific field of
science or whether it draws on a wider range of knowledge from different
areas, and (ii) whether development is linked to specific lead entities such as
universities or whether knowledge creation is more distributed. We argue
that it is important to get a clearer idea of the disciplines, sources and the
organisation of new knowledge in the bio- based economy. A better understanding of what knowledge the bioeconomy builds upon can be useful in
several ways: it can help to clarify the boundaries of this economy; it can help
consolidate the population of entities that see their own missions in terms of
the bioeconomy; it can help identify knowledge strengths and gaps; and it
can help inform future public policy interventions, etc.
This chapter undertakes a systematic empirical analysis of the sources and
organisation of knowledge production in the bioeconomy. It has a specific
focus; namely publicly financed projects in the area of research and innovation activity for food and bio- based industries. Norway is among the OECD
countries that have earmarked public funding to promote research and
innovation of the bioeconomy. The argument is that publicly funded research
and innovation programmes are important instruments to promote the creation, dissemination and accumulation of new knowledge in the area of societal grand challenges (see e.g. Mowery, Nelson & Martin, 2010).
We use information from one of Norway’s key programmes in this area,
the Bionær Programme, to learn more about the knowledge system of the
bioeconomy. As mentioned in the introduction, we will explore two dimensions of knowledge creation and accumulation. The first involves what sorts
of actors are involved and how their work is organised. This level, which we