Sustaining technopolis in Sri Lanka : a technological innovation systems approach

Abstract

the technopolis based on nanotechnology in Sri Lanka, has been initiated successfully and entered the development phase of its activities. Central to the frameworks of evaluating sustainability of technopolis, interactions in the eco system are often evaluated. This study employs a comprehensive interaction analysis using the model of seven system functions of technological innovation systems, to identify virtuous cycles, which are propitious to the propagation and sustenance of the technopolis. The study identifies advocacy coalitions in the form of political lobbying is a dominant dynamic in the pre development phase and the system undergo virtuous cycles and enters the next phase. The sustenance of the system in the development stage is fueled by dominant functions such as resource mobilization, market formation, and knowledge diffusion.