"INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES AS SPILLOVER INFRASTRUCTURES" — UNDERSTANDING THE HIDDEN DYNAMICS OF KNOWLEDGE DISTRIBUTION IN AN INNOVATION SYSTEM

摘要

Although knowledge spillover is considered as an important characteristic in a nations' technology infrastructure building process, studies on the necessary mechanisms to incorporate and induce them into the advanced technology infrastructure building process is still in its early stage. This paper discusses the role of integrated technologies and their knowledge carrying capacity to function as a spillover infrastructure. Knowledge carrying capacity of technologies identifies the ability of those technologies to function as a spillover infrastructure. Taking the case of robotics in Japan, this paper argues the important role of integrated technologies in creating a medium for knowledge distribution in an innovation system by providing comprehensive empirical evidences. We conclude that as intangible factors become important for building technological infrastructures, identifying the characteristics of integrated technologies in national systems will become an important strategic and policy issue.