A conceptual model for innovation research in the bio-economy

To cope with landscape pressures, such as the increasing resource scarcity, the agrifood-industry is transitioning to a bio-economy. Due to the complexity of the necessary system innovation, supporting research needs to be organized on the interface of different disciplines. Aside from the scientific and technological aspects, biotech researchers have to take into account issues like social norms and legislation, supply chain formation, cost efficiency and logistical challenges to develop marketable innovations. Biotechnological inventions developed based upon the classic science-driven innovation research approach, face a multitude of barriers that prevent end-user adoption, as the research often remains restricted to a single discipline and usually follows a linear process. To identify and circumvent those barriers and the underlying bottlenecks, a methodologically innovative research approach is needed. In this paper we propose an approach which is multi-disciplinary, dynamic, flexible and nonlinear. The resulting conceptual model for bio-technological innovation research, combines sound scientific research with intense multi-stakeholder participation from the initial phase of the research process.