The use of trade secrets for data in novel platform ecosystems of agricultural and food sectors
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2021-07-08
Author(s)
Abstract
Both public policy and business management are increasingly interested in how to manage trade secrets. One of the major driving forces is the growing significance of data as an asset, as “oil of the 21st century”. Trade secrets are often seen as the major Intellectual Property (IP) tool for protecting data. This paper seeks to understand how data practices and the use of trade secrets is evolving in new ecosystems in the agricultural and food industries. Using in-depth interviews, the paper develops theory by analysing case studies. We find trade secret and contractual agreements are key tools for innovation and IP managers, but secretive data practices construct a barrier to open innovation. Firms begin by sorting data into two groups: data that they intend to share and data they do not intend to share (e.g., keep secret). Finally, we note that even within the single industry studied, data practices differ dependent on where a firm sits on the value chain and the data ecosystem in which it operates.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SoM - Business Innovation
Event Title
R&D Management Conference (RADMA) 2021
Event Location
Strathclyde
Event Date
07-09.07.2021
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
265209