Navigating an emerging innovation ecosystem: a case study of fuel cell innovation in Taiwan

The Taiwanese government has actively promoted and established policies for developing fuel cell research and industrial activities since the early 2000s. The activities, including those of Taiwanese policy actors, private firms, and research institutions, are part of a fuel cell innovation ecosystem. Through an embedded case study, this paper examines past national policies, sectoral-level developments, and how a firm has navigated the environment. The analysis is based on the notion of an innovation ecosystem, which analytically covers micro, meso, and macro levels and has more porous boundaries than a national innovation system. Hence, the contribution of this paper relates to creating a deeper understanding of what is happening under the surface of government policy and what path firms can take. Thus, it contributes to studies on latecomer strategies in technology sectors of the dynamic interaction between policy, sectoral development, and firm strategy.