Socio-technical configuration

features:

time	difficulty	people

Hours	Straightforward	Individually

features
materials
steps
example
downloads

intro:

An innovation alone cannot work. It requires an infrastructure, depends on regulatory frameworks, specific use practices, and should not disrupt societal and cultural norms. These and other elements are visualized in the socio-technical configuration. The configuration however is not static: a new innovation may disrupt the existing system while broader ethical, legal or social changes influence the innovation and its use.

steps:

Mapping
1
Map the linkages between the core technology you are working on and its broader context.
1. What is, or should be, in place in order for the innovation to work (not only in a technical sense)?
  
  Make use of the template and examples presented here.
Comparison
2
Compare the socio-technical configuration with the existing system of a similar technology or a configuration fulfilling a similar function as the envisaged innovation.
1. Which elements of the existing socio-technical configuration may be challenged or changed by the innovation?
  
  Which are the most disruptive changes?
.
Changes in societal context
3
Think about broader changes which are going on in the world and which are not easily influenced like climate change, global migration, population ageing, political conflicts, resource scarcity, increasing inequalities, etc.
1. How do changes in the societal context impact the various elements of the socio-technical configuration?
  
  Which impact does this have on the innovation?
  
  Considering these changes, what would be needed for the innovation to still work in this new socio-technical configuration?

example:

Cultured meat

Step 1 – mapping the socio-technical configuration for cultured meat

The different elements of the socio-technical configuration are filled in for the new innovation of cultured meat.

Step 2 – Compare the socio-technical configuration of cultured meat with the existing system of the meat industry

Currently, a regulatory framework and specific quality controls exists for foodstuff, which also needs to be considered for cultured meat products, for example if additives are added for a more healthy diet. Ultimately, this may also lead to new regulations if the existing framework is not sufficiently covering the requirements of the new innovation.

The cultural and ethical norms of eating meat changes in parts of the society, with an increasing environmental awareness and consumers looking for alternatives to meat. If an animal-free diet becomes the norm, it could be unaccepted to eat meat in society. A question is how groups with particular religious rules for the consumption of meat may conceive cultured meat.

For cultured meat, the production process changes compared to traditional meat, requiring a lab infrastructure and cell culture product. The introduction of cultured meat challenges traditional farming practices which means that farms living from meat production need to find a new market. Similarly, meat disposal is a huge industry. The reduction of meat waste will impact this industry and decreases the material available for products in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Similarly, the agricultural sector and the leather industry are impacted by this new innovation.

Step 3 – anticipating changes in the societal context

Discussions during the Corona pandemic led to a higher public attention to standards in meat production companies. Together with the visible effects of climate change and an increased environmental awareness the development of cultured meat technologies can be supported by society. While this could lead to an increase in cultured meat consumption, a general change in mind-set to reduce the overall meat consumption per person could have a negative impact on cultured meat production due to a lower requirement of meat-like products. The increase of cultured meat could also have an impact on organic farms, reducing their market share drastically and leaving room for conventional meat products on the market.

example:

Electric cars

The introduction of a new innovation can have an impact on the existing socio-technical configuration. If the regular car is for example replaced by an electric car, the production system needs to be adapted since new components (e.g., battery) are added to the car and different components, such as rare materials, are needed. Additionally, the infrastructure must be adapted to implement charging stations. In the case of electric cars, more time is needed to ‘re-fuel’ the car which also has an impact on user practices and mobility patterns. Electric cars might be dominantly used for driving shorter distances or for public transportation. New regulations such as emission taxes, no parking fees at a charging station, or specific lanes stimulate the use and implementation of electric cars. Mapping the different elements of the socio-technical configuration thus helps to reflect on necessary changes and challenges of the innovation.

example:

Petri dishes

In this example, a socio-technical configuration has been drawn for a technical research project. A PhD student, who was creating micro-structures for cell culture plastics, compared the technology he developed with standard products on the market. Conventional cell culture products have a flat surface which is not comparable to the in vivo situation. To improve cell culture, the PhD student and his colleagues created micro-structures on the surface of cell culture products and were able to achieve an increase in culture yield for iPS (induced Pluripotent Stemcells) cells.

After drawing a socio-technical configuration, he compared which advantages or challenges are expected when standard cell culture technologies, such as conventional petri dishes, are replaced with his new innovation. An advantage of the micro-structured plastics is that additional coatings to increase cell attachment are not needed due to the structured surface, which eliminates the use of expensive materials and reduces handling steps. Potential challenges are foreseen for the product requirements and for the fabrication and production. Cell culture plastics have certain requirements, for example they must be sterile, which is also important for new products. Additionally, for the new technology it is important that the shape of the micro structures are reproducible to ensure a high product quality and functionality. For the fabrication, cell culture plastics are currently produced by injection molding while the microstructures are created by hot embossing. This difference in fabrication is expected to be the most critical challenge for the innovation. Next to these advantages and challenges, no change is anticipated for the materials or outer dimensions which are conform with the existing standards (ANSI standards).

After discussing this socio-technical configuration with a culture plastic manufacturer it was suggested that the fabrication might indeed be the largest challenge. The fabrication of new molds could be too expensive for the relatively small market that is envisioned for the micro-structured products. The interviewee suggested however that alternatively an inlay with microstructures could be produced that is compatible with the conventional products.

You can find more information on the research at: Hulshof, F., 2016, Topochip: Technology for instructing cell fate and morphology via designed surface topography, PhD thesis, University of Twente: Enschede, The Netherlands.

Socio-technical configuration

features:

intro:

steps:

example:

Cultured meat

example:

Electric cars

example:

Petri dishes

downloads: