Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to consider how best Europe can maximise its advantages in biotechnology. It is wrong to talk about biotechnology as an industry. It is not an industry but a technology, or rather a set of technologies. It is above all concerned with new approaches to old problems and new ways of doing things; it is a process technology, not a product technology. (This helps to explain why it has led to so few new products on the market some 15 years after it first emerged.) To maximise its advantage in biotechnology, Europe’s goal must be the rapid diffusion of the new process techniques. This chapter argues that the key to this diffusion process lies, not, as many would suggest, with the small firm sector, but with Europe’s major pharmaceutical and chemical companies. It further argues that the best way to promote the take-up of biotechnological processes lies in strong support for the science base, the building of bridging mechanisms between industry and academia, and a tough but sympathetic regulatory environment.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
AABB (1988) Directory of British Biotechnology.
ABRC/SPRU (1986) International Comparisons of Government Funding of Academic and Academically Related Research (obtainable in mimeo from SPRU, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RF, UK).
Bull, A. T., G. Holt and M. Lilly (1982) Biotechnology: International Trends and Perspectives Paris: OECD.
Coleman, R.F. (1987) ‘National Policies and Programmes in Biotechnology’. paper presented at Canada-OECD Joint workshop on National Policies and Priorities in Biotechnology, Toronto, Canada, 7–10 April. Reproduced in OECD (1988) Biotechnology: The Changing Role of Governemt Paris: OECD (1988).
Dosi, G. (1982) ‘Technological Paradigms and Technological Trajectories: A Suggested Interpretation of the Determinants and Directions of Technical Change’, Research Policy, vol. 2, no. 3, pp 147–62.
Dosi, G. (1988) ‘The Nature of the Innovative Process’, Chapter 10 in G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg, and L. Soete, (eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London: Frances Pinter).
The Economist (1989) The Money Guzzling Genius of Biotechnology, 13 May, pp.91–2.
Financial Times (1988) Supplement on Biotechnology, p.II ‘Ventures that may appeal to the heart of the City’, 28 May.
Irvine, J., Martin, B. and Isard, P., (1990) Investing in the Future: An International Comparison of Government Support for Academic and Related Research (Aldershot: Edward Elgar).
OTA (1984) Commercial Biotechnology: An International Analysis (US Congress Office of Technology Assessment, January).
Raugel, P.J. (1986) ‘Specialised Biotechnology Firms Financed by Venture Capital’, Biofutur, special issue on Biotechnology in France, March.
Sapienza, A. (1989). ‘Technology Transfer: An Assessment of the Major Institutional Vehicles for Diffusion’, Technovation, 9, Summer.
Sharp, M. (1985) The New Biotechnology: European Governments in Search of a Strategy (Sussex European paper No 15: Science Policy Research Unit). (University of Sussex:)
Tanaka, M. (1988) Industry-University Relations in the case of the new Biotechnology in Japan, mimeo, Saitama University. Tokyo, Japan
Yuan, R. (1987) Biotechnology in Western Europe (US Department of Commerce: International Trade Administration, April).
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1991 The British Association for the Advancement of Science
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sharp, M. (1991). European Countries in Science-Based Competition: The Case of Biotechnology. In: Hague, D. (eds) The Management of Science. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-21275-0_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-21275-0_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-52540-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-21275-0
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)