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From information technology to bioinformatics: Evolution of technological capabilities in India

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  • Banerjee, Preeta M.

Abstract

This paper explores a trend in the development of innovation in emerging economies: exaptive technological capabilities. A growing proportion of innovation is originating in emerging economies that, being resource-constrained in a dynamic and uncertain environment, requires leveraging existing capabilities and recombining with new knowledge resources. An evolutionary biology model is applied to a process model whereby initial technological capabilities are renewed by the firm given an external selection event. Using a detailed case study across 6years, this paper investigates the exaptation process of Information Technology (IT) capabilities into bioinformatics by an Indian IT firm, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Findings suggest that just leveraging existing technological capabilities alone is a model set for failure. Such a tactic ignores the environment of the new technology application area. By investing in the needed complementary resources, TCS corrected its initial path to open source their software and offer consulting services on how to utilize the software and, thus, create intellectual property. These insights are valuable not only for the innovation management of traditional IT services to life sciences, but more broadly for firms in emerging economies that hope to renew and build exaptive technological capabilities to enter unforeseen new application areas by leveraging existing technological capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Banerjee, Preeta M., 2012. "From information technology to bioinformatics: Evolution of technological capabilities in India," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 79(4), pages 665-675.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:79:y:2012:i:4:p:665-675
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2011.08.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Hossein Mombeini & Abdolreza Yazdani-Chamzini & Dalia Streimikiene & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas, 2018. "New fuzzy logic approach for the capability assessment of renewable energy technologies: Case of Iran," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(4), pages 511-532, June.
    2. Das, Gouranga G. & Drine, Imed, 2020. "Distance from the technology frontier: How could Africa catch-up via socio-institutional factors and human capital?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    3. Paiola, Marco & Schiavone, Francesco & Khvatova, Tatiana & Grandinetti, Roberto, 2021. "Prior knowledge, industry 4.0 and digital servitization. An inductive framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).

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