Paper short abstract:

This presentation explores innovation and governance within the emerging field of regenerative medicine.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation explores innovation and governance within the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Specifically, we explore how emerging RM technologies acquire technology identities; identities which reflect particular, sometimes conflicting values, and which consequently shape their future development trajectories. We focus primarily on the United Kingdom, where the government is actively facilitating the emergence of an RM industry. We illustrate that powerful actors such as the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (a State-mandated 'innovation accelerator agency') construct and consolidate promissory technology identities that enact prevalent beliefs regarding what constitutes 'innovation' and the importance of commercialisation. Meanwhile, gate-keeping governance actors such as Health Technology Appraisal Agencies construct alternative, less-optimistic identities that reflect a different set of values. These technology identities and the values they reflect are indicative of wider tensions and challenges within the field of regenerative medicine, and within new health bioeconomies more generally.