Risk preventative innovation strategies for emerging technologies the cases of nano-textiles and smart textiles

• Published in: Technovation Vol. 34; no. 8; pp. 420 - 430
• Main Authors: Köhler, Andreas R., Som, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2014; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Decision making; EHS; Heuristics; Innovation; Innovations; Intangible risks; Life cycle engineering; Life cycle perspective; Life cycles; Nanostructure; New technology; Risk; Risk management; Strategy; Studies; Sustainability; Sustainable design; Technological change; Technology; Textiles; Uncertainty; Decision-making; EHS; Uncertainty; Sustainability; Intangible risks; Life cycle perspective
• ISSN: 0166-4972; 1879-2383
• DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2013.07.002

Emerging technologies can result in unintended side effects that are detrimental on safeguard subjects, namely environment, health & safety and sustainability (EHS/S). Adverse impacts of technologies can result in enterprise risks for companies that develop their business strategies around technological innovation. The EHS/S risks should therefore be mitigated prior to the market proliferation of new technologies. Risk preventative innovation strategies enhance the competitiveness of those companies that create safe and socially acceptable products. This article examines early warning signs for EHS/S risks of two emerging technologies: nano-textiles and smart textiles. The two case studies delineate the existing knowledge regarding these aspects and investigate the innovators’ awareness about environmental and safety implications of products incorporating these technologies. It was observed that technology developers often lack the capacity and skills needed to analyse and manage the intangible EHS/S risks of new technologies. Furthermore, the discussion focuses on strategies for the anticipatory management of EHS/S risks. A life cycle perspective is recommended to support the assessment of prospective impacts on environmental and human safeguard subjects. Sustainable design heuristics can offer guidance for industrial technology development processes. In support of industrial best practice, legislation should specify standards regarding life cycle risk management. It is instrumental to implement these strategies concurrently to the technology innovation processes. This helps to keep the risk mitigation costs in check during the subsequent phase of product commercialisation. •We identify early warning signs for prospective EHS/S risks of two future technologies, nano-textiles and smart textiles.•The analysis delineates uncertainty regarding the EHS/S risks.•Risks are identified at different life cycle stages of future products.•We discuss prevention strategies for the management of intangible EHS/S risks.