Exaptation Dynamics in Technological Innovation
Summary
Exaptation refers to the process by which existing technologies or components acquire new functions distinct from those for which they were originally designed. In technological innovation, exaptation dynamics encompass the mechanisms and conditions that enable such functional shifts, including serendipitous insight, cross‐disciplinary collaboration and supportive ecosystems. Unlike linear pipelines of invention, exaptive pathways emerge through the recombination or repurposing of established artefacts, knowledge or processes in response to new challenges or opportunities. Key factors shaping these pathways include organisational flexibility, access to diverse knowledge networks and the presence of platforms that encourage experimentation under uncertainty. Concrete examples—ranging from the rapid conversion of manufacturing lines during health emergencies to the redeployment of data‐analysis tools in novel domains—illustrate how exaptation fosters resilience, accelerates development and drives competitive advantage across industries.
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Exaptation Dynamics in Technological Innovation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in exaptation dynamics in technological innovation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Exaptation: The process by which an existing technology, component or process acquires a new function different from its original purpose.
Resource bricolage: The improvisational recombination of heterogeneous resources, skills and knowledge to create novel solutions under constraint.
Ambidexterity: The organisational capacity to pursue both efficiency-oriented (exploitative) and innovation-oriented (explorative) activities concurrently.
Exaptive relations: Serendipitous interpersonal or inter-organisational interactions that give rise to unplanned technological applications.
References
- Industrial innovation processes and societal challenges: How Telenor's mobile phone data became a tool for fighting pandemics. Technological Forecasting and Social Change (2024).
- Identifying the exaptation potential of supply chain resilience capabilities during COVID-19: insights from Australia. Production & Manufacturing Research (2024).
- Innovation in crisis: The role of ‘exaptive relations’ for medical device development in response to COVID-19. Technological Forecasting and Social Change (2022).
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