The transition from technological to social innovation: the case of biomedical 3D printing

The purpose of this paper is to understand the transition from technological innovation to social innovation, analyzing insights from the biomedical context. Specifically, the study investigates how entrepreneurs manage such transition mainly referring to their motivations and awareness about social innovation. The study adopts a qualitative approach, in the form of multiple case studies of Italian firms that produce and use 3D Printing in biomedical field. Data were collected by in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, backed by available documentary evidence and observation. Similarities and differences between the sets of findings were identified and analyzed, and conclusions drawn. This study points to the need for further investigation providing researchers with new information about the transition from technology innovation to social innovation. The transition has been studied from an exploratory perspective, considering 3D Printing as a recent phenomenon in biomedical field.