Innovation Ecosystems to Promote the Establishment of Complex Bio-Technologies in Distant Markets – The Case of Fucoidan

Abstract

Fucoidans are a group of sulfated polysaccharides mainly found in various brown algae species that also exist in the North and the Baltic Sea. Despite a broad range of beneficial and bioactive characteristics that have been identified by numerous research teams of diverse professional backgrounds over the last decades the market opportunities in distant application fields of fucoidans have not been exploited yet. The use of fuciodans in application fields of the dietary, cosmetic or medical branch requires the integration of multiple technologies along the supply chain – cultivation, harvesting, extraction, separation, characterization, synthesis and possible combinations with adjacent technologies such as medical technologies for the application of the active ingredient. Additionally, regulatory, ecological and social aspects of the innovation process need to be considered. Consequently, the evolution of such complex technology domains including the applications requires the knowledge of a diverse group of professions. Their continuous collaboration exploring new technological components and system solutions and exploiting technologies in the shape of product innovations is a crucial factor of success. Therefore, it is necessary to identify key stakeholders of a technology and adjacent application fields to create and coordinate a multidisciplinary innovation ecosystem. Such an ecosystem supports the ability to collectively promote the technological evolution by interdisciplinary collaboration beyond established technological and market boundaries.
On the example of the brown algae extract fucoidan the development and application of such a complex and supply chain integrated technological system will be analyzed from the perspective of innovation ecosystems. The results are based on patent and publication data as well as qualitative interviews with actors of the ecosystem.