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Early Front-End Innovation Decisions for Self-Organized Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics—A Case Study on Lignin Utilization

Author

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  • Magdalena Gabriel

    (Institute of Industrial Management, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM, Kapfenberg 8605, Austria)

  • Josef-Peter Schöggl

    (Institute of Systems Sciences, Innovation and Sustainability Research, University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria)

  • Alfred Posch

    (Institute of Systems Sciences, Innovation and Sustainability Research, University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria)

Abstract

The emergence of self-organized industrial symbiosis (IS) is based on the expectations of industrial actors regarding financial and/or environmental benefits through symbiotic inter-company linkages. One such linkage is the exchange of by-products as substitutes for primary raw materials. However, the company generating the by-product may even not be aware of potential application fields in other industries. In cases where the by-product triggers an innovation, the very early phase of the innovation process (“early front-end”—EFE) is extremely important, as it is here that a first rough picture of future application fields must be defined. In contrast to traditional market innovations of industries, the EFE of IS innovations is triggered by the existence of a certain by-product. As conventional innovation models are not very helpful in supporting the EFE decisions in IS innovations, our paper aims to establish a link between self-organized IS and innovation by creating a specific theoretical framework for the support of EFE decisions. We thus introduce the “stage-gate model of self-organized IS innovations” and place a particular emphasis on the early phases within this model. Subsequently, we illustrate the application of the early phases of the model in a case study on lignin utilization in the Austrian paper and pulp industry (P&P industry). In this way, the study contributes to a better understanding of the peculiarities and conditions of EFE decisions in IS innovations and their significance in the emergence of self-organized IS networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Magdalena Gabriel & Josef-Peter Schöggl & Alfred Posch, 2017. "Early Front-End Innovation Decisions for Self-Organized Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics—A Case Study on Lignin Utilization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:515-:d:94358
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Herstatt, Cornelius & Verworn, Birgit, 2001. "The "fuzzy front end" of innovation," Working Papers 4, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management.
    6. Park, Joo Young, 2014. "The evolution of waste into a resource: Examining innovation in technologies reusing coal combustion by-products using patent data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(10), pages 1816-1826.
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