Abstract
In this article, we propose four modifications to the standard Triple Helix innovation model, which consists of the three strands: university, government, industry. First, in view of recent economic, cultural, organizational and ideological changes in many countries, it is now important to introduce a fourth strand to the standard model, namely society. Second, we observe that strands occur in doublets which we refer to as binomials. Examples of doublets include university/society, university/industry, industry/society, etc. Third, the binomials are organized in a hierarchic mode; for example in the university/society binomial, university may be dominant and the society secondary. The hierarchy arrangement proves decisive. Fourth, Helix-driven innovation processes take the form of temporary segmented phases. Using the case study of Dip-Pen nanolithography, we identify four phases where each phase is characterised by specific binomials accompanied by a hierarchy: academic instrument research (university/society); from instrument to tool; company start-up (university/industry); the mature firm and commercialization (industry/society); confirming the societal strand “nanofication”(society/industry). The government strand operates as a recessive component in phases one and four.
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Notes
During the fourth stage, numerous other initiatives were taken which will not be presented in this text. For further information on these developments, see Marcovich and Shinn (2011).
While the Dip-Pen proper was at this phase characterized by relative simplicity, the AFM on which it depends itself constitutes a highly complex device, because of its electronic and computational environment.
C. Mirkin et al., “Methods Utilizing Scanning Probe Microscope Tips and Products Thereof or Produced Thereby”, United States Patent 7,446,324, November 4, 2008.
Dr. Calvin F. Quate was one of the fathers of the AFM invented in 1986.
http://www.nanoink.net/NSCRIPTOR.htm (11.3.2009).
Interview September 11, 2009 of T. Levesque with authors.
http://www.nanoink.net/d/appnote_JustAddDNA.pdf (11.3.2009).
http://www.nanoink.net/NanoStem_about.htm (20.9.2009).
Interview of Tom Levesque February 22, 2009 with authors. Student-writing manual for NanoInk: “A Basic Protocol for the NanoLithography Platform”, Ben Wilcox, NanoInk Inc., Summer 2008, 18p.
http://nanobusiness.org/index.php (consulted April 1, 2010).
Nano-oriented pedagogical reform is likewise growing outside the United States. Australia is developing a national educational program in nanoscience and technology directed at the secondary level. Like the I-tist program at Philadelphia it is designed to establish convergence between biology, chemistry and physics, to introduce students to learning in nano, to demonstrate nano’s affinity for applications and to inform youth about growing nano-related career openings (http://www.accessnano.org/about). The Netherlands are completing plans to introduce nano as one optional module in secondary school science teaching. Again nano will point to parallels between biology, chemistry and physics (Letter from Florine Meijer, project coordinator of nano instruction documentation University of Utrecht, Netherlands, to author, April 9. 2010). It would seem that among pedagogical reformers great attention is today being given to transversalities between disciplines. Finally, the European Union now too promotes educational programs in nano. These are directed at the bachelor, masters and doctoral level, with an eye to career potential in corporate technology (Malsch 2008).
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Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Tom Levesque who was at the time of our research vice-president of NanoInk Inc. Fabrication division for the information that he generously provided. We are also indebted to Maria Caramez Carlotto (University of Sao Paolo) for recommending transformations to an earlier draft of this text.
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Marcovich, A., Shinn, T. From the Triple Helix to a Quadruple Helix? The Case of Dip-Pen Nanolithography. Minerva 49, 175–190 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-011-9169-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-011-9169-z