Technological innovation processes in traffic and transport are often slow and proceed in unwanted directions or stop prematurely. The reasons are seldom in the technology itself. In most cases, there is an incompatibility in the co-evolution of culture and structure. Innovation processes stop because regulations, economic relationships, interests, distribution of costs and benefits, preferences, etcetera do not change synchronised with the technology. This causes barriers in the innovation process. The present conditions in traffic and transport seem to be more favourable for maintenance and exploitation than for innovation. The government plays an important role in the co-evolution. The government has the possibility for stimulating structural and cultural changes in the departments themselves and in society. Its competence is more in that domain than in technology itself. The present way in which the Dutch Ministry of Transport takes its role in the innovation process might be reconsidered. The role to stimulate the technological innovations directly might be modified into a role in which the necessary structural and cultural change processes are stimulated. The skills within the Ministry should be developed according to this purpose. (A)
Abstract