Crisis and change in the system of innovation: The Japanese pharmaceutical industry during the Lost Decades, 1990–2010
2013; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 56; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00076791.2013.847428
ISSN1743-7938
Autores Tópico(s)Asian Industrial and Economic Development
ResumoAbstractThis article uses the experience of the Japanese pharmaceutical industry to show how Japan's national system of innovation evolved from a closed, firm-based domestic system toward a more open, networked, global system. This occurred in the face of a crisis of economic and technological dimensions. During the Lost Decades, the nature of innovation in this industry shifted from incremental toward more radical innovation, as the system internationalised and as firms leveraged different environments around the world. This article highlights the varying roles that the components of the system of innovation play in shaping innovative industries. It also shows how institutions can be remarkably malleable in times of crisis.Keywords:: systems of innovationpharmaceutical industrybiotechnologyJapanLost Decades AcknowledgementsI am grateful for the feedback received on earlier versions of this paper presented at the conferences of the Association of Business Historians and the Business History Conference. I especially thank Trevor Boyns, Glenn Morgan and three anonymous referees for commenting on earlier versions of this paper.Notes 1. Radical innovation refers to non-linear, paradigmatic changes (such as the discovery of completely new and different drugs), which represent a departure from existing knowledge, whereas incremental innovation generally involves linear, minor improvements on existing products or processes. 2. This article refers to pharmaceuticals in terms of prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are medicines that can be obtained with a physician's prescription. 3. 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CitationMHLW, Iyakuhin Sangyō [Pharmaceutical Industry].Additional informationNotes on contributorsMaki UmemuraMaki Umemura is a lecturer in International Business and Japanese Studies at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. She obtained her PhD in Economic History from the London School of Economics. Her research interests are in business history, biomedical innovation, and the healthcare industry (pharmaceuticals, medical devices).
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