Scanning the technological environment for supporting radical innovation: A case from the Italian machinery industry

Technology intelligence is becoming increasingly relevant in this economic crisis, as a managerial process that stimulates and supports radical innovation and the creation of new business. Technology scanning, i.e. “learning about any technological development which could have an impact on the future” (Mortara et al., 2008) is probably the most difficult type of technology intelligence process. At the moment, the literature on technology intelligence does not yet provide a model for technology scanning aimed at supporting radical innovation. The paper aims at filling this gap and proposes a theoretical model for technology scanning. The model is then applied and tested in an Italian company operating in the industrial machinery industry, in the context of radical innovation. The results of the application allows to discuss the applicability and generalization of the model, and give some suggestions for future research on the topic.