Emerging technologies-beyond the chasm: Assessing technological forecasting and its implication for innovation management in Korea

Technology forecasting is inevitable in modern society; however, few studies have assessed it under an innovation management framework. By employing the Innovation Readiness Level, we have assessed the innovation performance of the 10 Emerging Future Technologies reported in 2009. The data-mining process, including a patent analysis and survey results, validates the following hypotheses. 1) Technological innovation activities involving the 10 Emerging Future Technologies have increased after their announcement. 2) A chasm exists in the commercialization process of the 10 Emerging Future Technologies. 3) Interaction between innovation practitioners is correlated with overcoming the chasm. 4) Government support is useful for groups having difficulties in overcoming the chasm. Those foundations stress the roles of technological forecasting when entrepreneur assumes the risk associated with uncertainty in commercializing emerging technologies.