Conceptualization of technological innovation at the Institute of Plant Biotechnology

Abstract

An investigation was carried out with the objective of conceptualizing the technological innovation system at Instituto de Biotecnología de las Plantas (IBP), Cuba. A qualitative research methodology was used, which included the retrospective - prospective method of obtaining information for the analysis of bibliographic sources, historical documents, application of interviews with key informants and surveys, as well as the method of evaluating the information obtained or meta-analysis, for statistical processing, analysis and generalization. This work methodology allowed to carry out the conceptual analysis of technological innovation in its historical-logical evolution and to determine its theoretical cores associated with the practice of the IBP. As a result of the study, it was determined that the IBP develops the four types of technological innovation that are synthesized in the concept of the Oslo manual, related to product, process, marketing and organizational innovations. IBP human resources conceptualized these typologies, highlighting the role of social demand and the market as determinants factors within an innovation system based on the research - production - commercialization. These factors made possible to identify the strong tendency towards the use of a linear model of innovation in such institution.

Keywords

• model
• process
• research
• technology