Networks for Learning and Knowledge Creation in Biotechnology
Amalya Lumerman Oliver Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Scientists in the biotechnology sector have developed a vast array of products and procedures, including drugs, diagnostics, agricultural products and veterinary procedures. This is made possible through various intra- and inter-organizational collaborations between the academic and private sectors, and through the establishment of networks for learning. In Networks for Learning and Knowledge Creation in Biotechnology, Amalya Lumerman Oliver shows how, in many respects, the organizational structure of the industry parallels one of its most important innovations – recombinant DNA (rDNA). She shows how the concept of recombination can be used to explain a number of organizational elements, including new biotechnology firms, the form of university-based spin-offs, scientific entrepreneurship, and trust and contracts in learning collaborations and networks. The result is a stimulating account of how multiple theoretical perspectives can be used to understand the structure of the biotechnology industry.
• Provides a comprehensive, research-based analysis of a dynamic and diverse industry • Explains how networks and entrepreneurial activity drive innovation in the biotechnology sector • Discusses a wide number of issues relating to organizational learning and knowledge creation