Management of sectorial technology

chains and integral evaluation of

potential projects on innovation
technology
Ing. Juan Arturo Ortega MSc.
Universidad del Valle, Industrial Engineering and
Statistical School, Colombia
Thanks to R&D Biopolymers project team:
Ing. Mariano Benavides- CDT-ASTIN-SENA
Ing. Jesús A. García- CDT-ASTIN-SENA
Dr. Henry Maya Machek- Universidad del Valle
Bio. Raúl Maya Machek – Univ. Santiago de Cali
 Management of sectorial technology chains and
integral evaluation of potential projects on innovation
technology
This work presents a conceptual proposal about the genesis and
management of sectorial technology chains and their application in
the development of new products. The proposal is based on the
identification of knowledge and convergent technologies within the
process of innovation technology, considering the study of existing
products and processes and the analysis of technological and
marketing trends. We report on a case-study based research carried
out in Colombia on biopolymer chitin and chitosan applications. We
also present a set of criteria for the integral evaluation of ideas and
product concepts with potential for developing technological
innovation.
 DESIGNING THE SECTORIAL
TECHNOLOGY CHAINS
• A sectorial technology chain can be represented as a set of products
derived of a “mother” product or technology; which have arisen like
a discovery, such as the molecule of DNA, bacteria,
electromagnetic induction, semiconductor materials, and other
natural phenomena; or also, from a new element or product
designed and created like the transistor, the motor of
electromagnetic induction, the synthetic polymers, the active
molecule of a drug and other artificial products; when trying to look
for new applications products or knowledge mother (DNA molecule,
properties of the semiconducting materials, bacteria, etc.); which for
being manipulated or industrially produced, it is necessary to
develop process technologies, in where takes place the intra and
intersectorial convergence of diverse technologies (biochemical,
mechatronics, bioengineering, telematic, material design, others),
originating a chain of succession of technological applications and
the corresponding development of new products and markets.
 DESIGNING THE SECTORIAL
TECHNOLOGY CHAINS
• As illustrated in Table 1. from the knowledge and desing
of synthetic molecules (polymers) or knowledge and
manipulation of the natural DNA molecule (biopolymers),
and the conception and development of the convergent
technologies and new process technologies, for
example: DNA-recombinant (genetic engineering),
scientists have developed new applications and products
in diverse areas, among other, such as vegetable
varieties and seeds, animal varieties, vaccines,
enzymes, cloning of tissues and animal varieties, food
and beverage varieties, new materials and
biotechnological products; in the last field it has been
studying the properties of the natural biopolymers chitin
and chitosan.
Fig. Molecular structures of the chitin, chitosan and cellulose.
Recovery of the skin in the case of a Basallom Carcinoma
Recovery of the skin in the case of a Basallom Carcinoma
Recovery of the skin in the case of a Basallom Carcinoma
Behavior of the glucosa curve of a diabetic patient
Profile average of the cholesterol levels
Behavior of the chitin in the presence of kitchen oil
Manufacture of artificial skin
Phothographies of the film
 THE PROCCESS OF
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
Step 1. Generation of ideas and estimation of potential market value.

This step addresses the analysis of existing product and technologies

and the market and technology tendencies. We suggest the
following criteria to evaluate new ideas of projects:

• coherence between the objectives and the corporate strategy;

• Potential value of the estimated market; (see fig. 2)
• Complexity of the technology and estimated required investments;
and
• Impact and relationship with the environment: Legal, trades,
environmental licenses, and general regulatory issues.
 THE PROCCESS OF
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
Step 2. Tehcnological evaluation of the Project profiles

This includes the required facilities to perform the industrial and

commercial operations so that the new product may be developed
and merchandised, and the technological learning to apply in future
projects. We suggest the following criteria to evaluate the
technological pre-feasibility of the project profile:

• innovative characteristics of the product and possible competitive

advantages;
• required capacity and resources for R&D;
• Required capacity for production; and
• Technological learning as a result of the project.
 Matrix of integral evaluation of the
innovation project
• INSTITUTIONAL CRITERIA
• 1.1 STRATEGIC COHERENCE
• 1.2 COMPETITIVE ADVENTAGE
• 1.3 IMPACTOF THE PROJECT IN THE SURROUNDINGS
• TECHNOLOGICAL CRITERIA
• 2.1 CHARACTERISTIC OF THE INNOVATION
• 2.2 CAPACITY OF INVESTIGATION, DEVELOPMENT AND
INNOVATION
• 2.3 CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF MANUFACTURE,
DISTRIBUTION, SERVICES AND COMMERCIALIZATION
• 2.4 TECHNOLOGICAL LEARNING
• ECONOMIC CRITERIA
• 3.1 POTENTIAL MARKET VALUE AND BENEFITED POPULATION
• 3.2 PROJECT’S PROFITABILITY
 Conclusions
• The strategic management of private and public
organizations is determined by a variety of
internal and external factors; such as industry
and sectorial specific characteristic:
technological, social and commercial trends and
internal strengths and weaknesses. An important
tool for reacting to such trends lies in the
identification and construction of sectorial
technological chains, which are useful to show
the evolution and relation between current and
emerging technologies.
 Conclusions
• Technology chains may have several
applications in technology management
practice: for instance by exploiting synergy
between expertise and skills within an
organization to identify potential of convergent
technologies in the short and medium term. That
is, a key information in the construction and
development of new technological applications
strategies. In this sense, technology chains
provide a context for project decision planning
within the process of innovation technology.
 Conclusions
• In this paper, we have recommended jointly with the
elaboration of technology chains a set of criteria, which
include institutional-strategical, technological, economic
and social aspects for an integral project evaluation in
the first exploratory step. Besides, it must be recognized
that these concepts are in evolution and each sector has
its specifities, because it is important as a new research
project to build a taxonomy of the potential innovations
by comparing their technological complexity with the
required investment to participate and compete in new
markets.