How collaboration networks affect innovation in Korea’s information and communication technology industry in the era of Internet of Things

Abstract

Innovation is the outcome of interactions among multiple actors and institutions. In actor-based innovation system studies, researchers have investigated with whom actors should collaborate to create innovation. In reality, however, actors do not choose their collaboration network only based on information at the actor level; they also consider ‘something’ specific that their partner may possess. In the era of Internet Things, collaboration network is more important than ever because it is getting more difficult for a firm to innovate alone, as information and communication technology (ICT) converges with other industries. This paper introduces a factor-based innovation system and then derives via an empirical analysis the effect of factor networks in the innovation system on innovation with adaption to the Korean ICT industry.

Keywords:

• innovation system
• actor-based innovation system
• ICT industry
• collaboration network
• innovation factor

Notes

1. In innovation system theory, innovation is achieved by the organization and the institution; the organization refers to the actors who perform the innovation, and the institution refers to the invisible relationships between the actors. This paper uses the term ‘actor’ instead of organization.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The International Science and Business Belt Program through the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning [grant number 2015K000272 ].