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1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2009

By
Giovanni Dosi  and
Mariana Mazzucato
Edited by
Mariana Mazzucato  and
Giovanni Dosi
Giovanni Dosi
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Economics and Management, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
Mariana Mazzucato
Affiliation:
Economic and Social Research Council, Innogen Centre, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Mariana Mazzucato
Affiliation:
The Open University, Milton Keynes
Giovanni Dosi
Affiliation:
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa
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Summary

This book addresses, from a variety of perspectives, the patterns of innovation through the history of the pharmaceutical industry (which we take to include nowadays both pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms) and the ways that knowledge has coevolved with the dynamics of firm growth, industry structure and the broader socio-economic environment.

Ever since it began the pharmaceutical industry has indeed been an example of a “science-based” industry, whereby innovation is driven, to a large extent, by joint advances in pure and applied sciences, together with complementary progress in research technologies – undertaken both within public research institutions and business firms. As such, it is a fascinating industry to study. And it is even more so in the light of the profound changes that have occurred recently in the underlying knowledge bases – associated with the so-called “biotech” revolution – as well as in the broad institutional regimes governing the generation and appropriation of the economic benefit of innovations. The welfare and policy implications are equally paramount, given the socio-economic importance of the industry for health, agriculture and food production.

Let us start with a brief overview of the history of the industry, in order to give some background for the analyses that follow, and then proceed by flagging some of the central issues addressed by the chapters below.

The evolution of the industry: an overview

The history of the international pharmaceutical industry has already been extensively analyzed by several scholars.

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Type
Chapter
Information
Knowledge Accumulation and Industry Evolution
The Case of Pharma-Biotech
 , pp. 1 - 18
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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  • Introduction
    • By Giovanni Dosi, Laboratory of Economics and Management, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy, Mariana Mazzucato, Economic and Social Research Council, Innogen Centre, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
  • Edited by Mariana Mazzucato, The Open University, Milton Keynes, Giovanni Dosi, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa
  • Book: Knowledge Accumulation and Industry Evolution
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511493232.001
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  • Introduction
    • By Giovanni Dosi, Laboratory of Economics and Management, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy, Mariana Mazzucato, Economic and Social Research Council, Innogen Centre, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
  • Edited by Mariana Mazzucato, The Open University, Milton Keynes, Giovanni Dosi, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa
  • Book: Knowledge Accumulation and Industry Evolution
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511493232.001
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
    • By Giovanni Dosi, Laboratory of Economics and Management, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy, Mariana Mazzucato, Economic and Social Research Council, Innogen Centre, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
  • Edited by Mariana Mazzucato, The Open University, Milton Keynes, Giovanni Dosi, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa
  • Book: Knowledge Accumulation and Industry Evolution
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511493232.001
Available formats
×