Niche Entry as a Route to Mainstream Innovation: Learning from the Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell in Stationary Power

摘要: The paper charts the efforts to establish a successful niche position for phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) in stationary power generation, as precursor wider technological system and regime change. Market entry depends on matching price/performance characteristics niche, improving performance through increasing returns, most important immediate of which are ‘learning effects’. identifies five types learning effect: (i) migrating technology other niches into mainstream; (ii) opening way technologies that may have greater scope migration; (iii) transferring within pioneering company or products; (iv) experience others industry; (v) enabling users learn. Although PAFC be perceived failure some respects, perspective suggests it has made positive useful contribution learning.