Functions of innovation systems

For a technology to be successfully implemented, one should take Innovation Systems into account. The technology is not implemented in isolation, but in an existing socio-cultural context: in this case that of the village of Valaramkunnu.

Innovation Systems are defined as the combination of actors that are needed to turn ideas into process, product or service on the market. Here we are dealing with a technological innovation system, which focuses on the development and implementation of a specific technology within a geographic setting.

There are two main lists of functions of innovation systems that are used (1) Hekkert et al. and (2) van Alphen et al. The first list was developed for the analysis of technological innovation systems in developed countries. The latter focuses on technological innovation systems in developing countries and then primarily on the diffusion of western-based innovations within a developing country context.

In our case we are not dealing with a western-based innovation, what would draw you to Hekkert’s list. Yet we are trying to implement an innovation, designed in a highly educated part of India, in an area of India that is less developed. The developed-developing relationship indicates we should make use of van Alphen’s functions. The functions of van Alphen are described in Table 2. The next section shall be used to expound the functions of van Alphen.

The first function is ‘creating adaptive capacity’ and deals with the capacity within the developing country context to be able to implement the new technology. This basically means if all the attributes, necessary for the technology to work, are available in Valaramkunnu. These attributes consist of the land that is needed to grow the lemongrass, the human capacity to work the stills but also the person of contact (mister Hari) discussed in the previous paragraph. Amrita University has taken care of the person of contact. The other facilities are already in place in the village (manpower and land). The reason this project was introduced was because of the potential of the land in the village and the people in need of work. When Amrita University installed the solar power units they supplied the village with the last necessities for the Distillation Project.

The next step is the diffusion of knowledge through networks. This concerns the knowhow of the use of the lemongrass still and the profit that can be won with the technology. At first it is important that Amrita University will set up an educational program to teach the villagers how to work with the new distillation units. The total people that are needed for the actual production of lemongrass oil with the distillery is six (as will be shown in the strategy under ‘employees’). All these people need to be taught how to work with the machine. Only two are actually needed to operate it and the rest will harvest the crop. Though it is important that all six have the knowledge so it does not pass away when one of the employees does.

The transfer of knowledge should be done with simple and basic training sessions, performed by Amrita University. There should also be kept a close eye to the progress after this session, to confirm if the villagers have fully understood this.

Informing the farmers on the business opportunities for lemongrass oil and showing them how to produce this oil, addresses the ‘demand articulation’ phase. Farmers should be motivated to use the technology and create some steady income for the first time in thirty-five years. The knowledge of the potential should be spread among the villagers. They are people with a low educational background and will need a number in Rupees to be convinced of the potential of lemongrass oil. In the business part we will explain the start we have made on resurrecting the lemongrass oil market. This needs to be taught to the villagers also and they need to feel some hard cash in their hands to get them motivated. This can only start when the production starts.

Seen the fact that this project in still in its starting phase; only the first three functions of the technical innovation system are going to be considered here. It will take time for the farmers to trust the technology can provide them with an income and they will have to learn to use the money they make not on a daily basis, but plan ahead. When a solid fundament has been put into place, we can look into the future and address the rest of the functions.