Co-evolutionary coupling leads a way to a novel concept of R&D - Lessons from digitalized bioeconomy

• Published in: Technology in society Vol. 60; p. 101220
• Main Authors: Naveed, Nasir, Watanabe, Chihiro, Neittaanmäki, Pekka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Biological coupling; Circular economy; Co-evolutionary coupling; Coupling; Digitalized bioeconomy; Digitization; Downstream effects; Electronic commerce; Empirical analysis; Evolution; Innovations; Markets; Novel R&D concept; Productivity; R&D; Research & development; Self propagation; Trade; Transformation; Digitalized bioeconomy; Circular economy; Biological coupling; Co-evolutionary coupling; Novel R&D concept
• ISSN: 0160-791X; 1879-3274
• DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101220

Given the increasing role of research and development (R&D) in competitive markets in the digital economy while confronting the dilemma between R&D expansion and a productivity decline, transformation of the R&D model has become a crucial subject for global digital leaders. The authors of this paper postulate that neo open innovation harnessing the vigor of external innovation resources which then developed into a new concept of R&D that self-transforms during an R&D process initiated by Amazon by coupling with users. The authors further develop these postulates by proposing the embedding of a growth characteristic identical to biological coupling. An empirical analysis focusing on the forefront endeavors of global bioeconomy firms and also by Amazon was conducted. A notable endeavor toward a circular economy initiated by its global leader UPM- Kymmene Corporation (UPM) demonstrated the significance of a coupling effect with downstream digital commerce leader Amazon. This effect can be attributed to harnessing the function of the growth characteristic identical to biological coupling through co-evolution of the dual coupling of bioeconomy and digitalization and of upstream and downstream operations. This co-evolutionary coupling is expected to provide a novel concept of R&D that grows its function in a self-propagating way during the R&D process. An insightful suggestion supporting to a novel concept of R&D in the digital economy is thus proposed. •Forefront endeavors of 50 global bioeconomy leaders were analyzed.•UPM's leading role towards circular economy and Amazon's eco-oriented resonance to it were highlighted.•UPM's sophisticated R&D-driven co-evolutional cycles utilizing external resources were appraised.