White Spaces Innovation in Sweden - Innovation policy for ... - Vinnova

WHITE SPACES INNOVATION IN SWEDEN3.4.3 Market Shaping Innovation Platform ManagementThis approach, practised most clearly in Östergötaland, centred on Linköping andNorrköping, does not involve either organising clusters into hubs or Grand Challengeinitiatives like „sustainable cities‟. This is because not many clusters were promotedthrough the Östsam regional development and innovation agency and strategy has beento conceive of national and regional markets as prime movers. Accordingly, policyattempts to shape existing markets wherever innovation opportunities are identified.One such market is Healthcare, which as in Swedish regions elsewhere is deliveredregionally and is a major element in the regional economy. Here, VINNOVA supportwas achieved for a Distributed Healthcare initiative under the VinnVäxt programme.Public health is seen as in need of re-shaping but it is difficult to conceive it in terms ofa regional innovation system. Accordingly, „New Tools for Health‟ the cluster initiativeworks with user-driven innovation ideas that are transformed into innovations in neglectedareas like drug delivery systems and specialised catheter technologies. The regionhas considerable capability in renewable energy technologies consisting of 90 firmssupported by the Environmental Technology Centre (MTC) but there is little policyinteraction since the market is perceived to be performing satisfactorily. An area whereÖstsam has been engaged in „technology push‟ for decades concerns the Printed ElectronicsArena‟ (PEA) in Norrköping, another VINNVÄXT supported initiative. Thistook an invention made in 1987 that showed a polymer could not only insulate but conductelectricity and in a determined, linear fashion aspired to transform the regionallyimportant packaging logistics market. This would come from the greater range andsophistication of capabilities of printed electronic labelling utilising an innovative organictransceiving ink polymer. A committed effort to shape this market has met anumber of serious obstacles, the most important of which has been failure to evolve anadequate supply chain, especially in the key systems design segment of the chain. Thisshock and management perturbation has caused a re-appraisal and a move away from alinear to a more transversal innovation platform management methodology. Accordinglynew bio-markets have been identified, involving advanced cellular therapeutics basedon remotely activated ion pumps. The organic character of PEA‟s product is clearlyadvantageous in this application. Another concerns advances in heart pacemakers whereelectricity can currently pump pace up but not down. If ions can be pumped biochemicallyinto the heart a breakthrough application of printed electronics can be envisaged.In the energy field printed solar cells are another transversal opportunity. Accordingly,PEA is in discussions with the New Tools for Health cluster in Linköping and KarolinskaInstitute and KTH in Stockholm‟s biotechnology and bioengineering communities tobroaden its applications focus with market shaping technological expertise.63