Exploring the Co-evolution of Inter-Industry Technological Innovation: Case of 3D Printing

Co-evolution occurs when two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution in the natural biological ecosystem. It is also an important evolutionary mechanism for inter-industry technological correlation systems. As technological interaction emerges and develops among related industries, some common characteristics can be observed in various industrial phases. This article builds a conceptual model on the co-evolution mechanism based on the causal relationships, processes, and results of inter-industry technological interactions. A five-stage collaborative evolution model and its evolutionary path are proposed. According to the intensity and direction of the technological interactions among industries in various stages, the process of synergetic development and its rules are revealed. Through the case study of 3D printing and related industries, it can be found that both the stage and level of correlated development are different during the technological innovation process. The roles and positions in the correlation are different among related industries. The findings of this research provide insights for technology policy in different high-tech industries. Decision makers can develop more effective innovation strategies, and promote the co-evolution of new technologies in different development stages of high-tech industries.