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Developing business ideas for drone technologies
Developing business ideas for drone technologies

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5 Ecosystem attributes: knowledge

Figure 5 in Section 4 reflects the complexity of ecosystems. As in nature, ecosystems in economics and business can be systems formed by various sub-systems. It is useful to identify specific sub-systems, based on some main characteristics. As the case of the drone-driven ecosystem for livestock management in rural France shows, there are links and interconnections across these sub-systems. An actor can be part of more than one such sub-system.

For example, ecosystems where their main attribute is new knowledge creation, also known as knowledge ecosystems, are formed to generate new knowledge or a new understanding on specific topic areas.

Described image
Figure 6 Victorine Perrin-Peyer, a farm worker and herd technician of IDELE at Ferm Innov, a beef cattle pilot farm. Victorine also runs her own farm

Typical actors that interact in such ecosystems are universities, research centres, government agencies and potentially firms. Knowledge ecosystems create value not only by generating new knowledge but also through its dissemination. This means that the aggregate/joint value of knowledge ecosystems might not be directly commercially exploited. It can, however, benefit all actors in the ecosystem, or even actors beyond this specific geographical ecosystem. As you will see later, drone demonstration events disseminate knowledge on drone use with broad benefits for both participants and their communities.

Activity 2

Timing: Allow approximately 10 minutes.

Go back to Figure 5 and closely inspect the different actors of the drone-driven ecosystem for livestock management in rural France. Can you identify any actors that may typically comprise a knowledge ecosystem?

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Discussion

The ecosystem in Figure 5 shows at least three actors which could comprise a knowledge ecosystem (or sub-system in this case). The actors are: IDELE, because it is a research organisation aiming at advancing knowledge in ruminant farming and drone use in this area; the ICAERUS consortium, which focuses on evidence-based research and communication of new research findings on the use of drones in agriculture and rural areas; educators – local colleges, who can support existing and new generations of farmers with developing the requisite skillset for using new technologies.

Knowledge ecosystems can play an important role in the uptake of drone technologies in agriculture. Drones are a new technology, and evidence-based research is needed to understand the benefits of using drones as well as their limitations and how these can be overcome. Look back at Week 1 to appreciate the importance of generating new knowledge in reducing uncertainty around the adoption of new technologies.