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This paper investigates the relationships between a focal technological innovation system (TIS), its surrounding sectors, and other TISs, through a value chain perspective. We examine how firm actors from sectors with different value chain positioning contribute to the function of the knowledge development in an emerging TIS. By assigning patents to value chain steps in the context of second generation biorefinery technologies, our findings indicate that sectors differ in their knowledge generation patterns in the focal TIS, and that multiple sectors can contribute to knowledge development along the whole TIS value chain. We also differentiate four types of TIS actors based on the way they develop new knowledge to approach the focal TIS: (1) actors from existing sectors that directly enter the focal TIS; (2) diversifying actors that enter the focal TIS but also its adjacent TISs; (3) actors dedicated to the innovation niche; and (4) actors that emerge and operate solely in the focal TIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the strategic goals behind actors' involvement in emerging technological innovation systems (TISs) for sustainable technologies and the way they contribute to the development of the TIS functions. Based on six expert interviews with firms within the biorefinery sector in Germany, we observe four different strategic goals driving firm-actors' involvement: (1) exploiting new markets and businesses, (2) learning about the potential of new markets and businesses, (3) developing new technologies and (4) building up new market applications. We also differentiate between three firm-actor types: (1) a leading type of incumbent firm highly contributing to the TIS functions; (2) a learning type of incumbent firm with lower contribution; and (3) a 'fill the gap' type of SME or start-up producing complementary knowledge or connecting other TIS actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]