For the function of innovation system analysis we will use the eight functions of innovation systems that Van Alphen wrote. Van Alphen’s functions are more relevant to implement an innovation, which is the case in this project. Our three months’ internship is only a part of the total cookstove project at KITA. For this reason we will make a distinction between our project and the total project for this analysis.
The eight functions of innovation systems are listed below. We will evaluate them all below.
- Entrepreneurial activities
- Creation of adaptive capacity
- Knowledge diffusion through networks
- Demand articulation
- Market formation
- Resources mobilization
- Creation of legitimacy / counteract resistance to change
- Infrastructure networks
Since our project is mainly focused on designing a new cookstove not all the functions are present in our project. We believe this is not a problem, because our project is not a complete innovation system, it is only a part of it. However in the total project they should all be present.
The entrepreneurial activities will only be present in the total project. We have written a business model based on a business model canvas. This model describes the entrepreneurial activities that should be done. These activities will not be performed during our project due to a lack of time and priority.
Our project does a lot considering the creation of adaptive capacity. Because the cookstove will be designed and build by both TU Delft students and KITA students the knowledge about the cookstove will stay at KITA once the TU Delft students leave. For the design it will be taken into account that the cookstove should be easy to produce with the locally available materials and equipment.
A very important and valuable part of the project is the collaboration between the KITA and TU Delft students. The students will exchange knowledge. Knowledge should also be transferred from the students to the local inhabitants. This is subject that will be worked on during the sales phase of our project. There will come a plan on how to create awareness on why they should use a cookstove and how to teach how the cookstove works.
At this moment the amount of Kenkey makers is still unknown. One of the main goals of the research phase is to do a market assessment. We will estimate the size of the customers group, find out their demands and write a report on this.
Because there is still little information about the market, our project will not concern market formation. This is a good point to focus on for the total project. We can already think about how to create a safe market for the cookstove, but this can also be a subject for the next group.
KITA does not have a large budget. Our project is financed partly by KITA and partly by the students themselves. The project only needs money for the constructing of the prototype. When a business is set up more money is needed. KITA should find an investor. It is unknown what kind of business KITA wants to set up. This has to be decided before all the resources can be mobilized.
To create legitimacy for the cookstove, awareness about the problem of the current cooking method should be created. In the sales phase of our project we will think of a plan on how to create awareness.
The infrastructures are not relevant for out