Introduction

Technological shape and size: A disaggregated perspective on sectoral innovation systems in renewable electrification pathways

“…Common to these systems is the fact that they make use of solar panels as the underlying source of electricity generation. However, it is clear that there are significant differences between the respective users, producers, investors, actors, prices, scales, R&D intensities, value chains, technical characteristics and competing technologies of these systems [5]. As noted by Stephan et al [8], understanding such differences in sectoral configurations helps identify dynamics that otherwise go unnoticed.…”

“…Innovation systems approaches are increasingly used for the analysis of development problems, including development problems in Africa [4,5]. The sectoral systems perspective ascribes importance to learning, knowledge and capability accumulation in the innovation process [6].…”

Innovation Trajectories in Developing Countries: Co-evolution of Global Value Chains and Innovation Systems

“…However, when we consider the IS approach from the point of view of building innovation capabilities in developing countries, there are some main weaknesses to note. First, the approach originally emerged by analysing advanced economies in the triad of Europe, Japan and United States (Freeman, 1987;Lundvall, 1988;Nelson, 1993), with most attention originally given to relatively mature innovation systems (Adebowale et al, 2014). Second, it is mainly focused on internal system dynamics, with a less developed analytical grip on the relationships to key actors from outside the region or country.…”

“…Three important insights emerge out of this literature. First, in developing countries, it is important to 'find your own way', without employing advanced economies' experiences as models (Adebowale et al, 2014;Lundvall and Lema, 2014). Second, the notion of an IS should be rather broad, closely integrating incremental innovation and collaborative learning and going beyond a narrow interpretation of innovation as the outcome of science-based research (Metcalfe and Ramlogan, 2008).…”

Enterprise innovation in developing countries: an evidence from Ethiopia

“…Most business enterprises in developing countries like Ethiopia are small-and medium-sized and face various challenges including lack of processed technological information, inadequate training capabilities at technical and vocational education training (TVET) centers, lack of access to financial and other resources and absence of consultancy support (FDRE 2010), poor infrastructural base, and unfavorable government policies which weaken their innovation activities (Abdu and Jibir 2017;Adebowale et al 2014;Choi and Lim 2017;Dotun 2015;Egbetokun et al 2016). It is interesting to observe that despite all the difficulties, a large share of firms can still innovate in the African context (Egbetokun et al 2016;Abdu and Jibir 2017).…”