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Technology Roadmapping for mission-led agile hardware development: a case study of a commercial fusion energy start-up

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  • Pearson, R.J.
  • Costley, A.E.
  • Phaal, R.
  • Nuttall, W.J.

Abstract

Despite several decades of dedicated R&D, fusion, a potentially world-changing energy source, remains decades away from commercialisation. The majority of development thus far has been via publicly-funded programmes led by government laboratories focused on scientific research and in which commercialisation strategy and innovation play a minor role. Generally, such programmes follow a linear model of innovation in which commercial aspects are not considered until later in development. In consequence and without intention, devices not well-suited for commercial application are being pursued. In recent years, however, privately funded fusion start-ups have emerged with the goal of accelerating the commercialisation of fusion. Fusion start-ups are, by necessity, operating on a fundamentally different model of innovation: agile innovation, whereby technology is developed flexibly and iteratively towards an explicit commercial goal. Technology Roadmapping is a method that has been effective for supporting agile innovation but thus far has had limited application to mission-led hardware development. We characterise the key features of the fusion innovation approach and create a novel Technology Roadmapping process for fusion start-ups, which is developed via a case study with Tokamak Energy Ltd. The main elements of the developed process, the resulting Technology Roadmap, and its impact are presented.

Suggested Citation

  • Pearson, R.J. & Costley, A.E. & Phaal, R. & Nuttall, W.J., 2020. "Technology Roadmapping for mission-led agile hardware development: a case study of a commercial fusion energy start-up," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:158:y:2020:i:c:s0040162519318281
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120064
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kim, Junhan & Geum, Youngjung, 2021. "How to develop data-driven technology roadmaps:The integration of topic modeling and link prediction," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    2. Marinakis, Yorgos D. & Walsh, Steven T. & White, Reilly, 2024. "What is the relationship between sociotechnical transition and disruptive innovations?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    3. Bonnin Roca, Jaime, 2022. "Teaching technological forecasting to undergraduate students: a reflection on challenges and opportunities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    4. Kayabay, Kerem & Gökalp, Mert Onuralp & Gökalp, Ebru & Erhan Eren, P. & Koçyiğit, Altan, 2022. "Data science roadmapping: An architectural framework for facilitating transformation towards a data-driven organization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).

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