Waiting games: innovation impasses in situations of high uncertainty

In these situations, the challenge for innovation has shifted from meeting uncertainties to breaking through a waiting game. The topic of ‘waiting games’ – or technology impasses – although recognised as a key challenge it has not been addressed in the innovation literature, while it is clearly important to understand the phenomenon, and to be able to do something about it. We call this a waiting game because it occurs over and above the strategies of individual actors, even if there is general acceptance that the technology is promising and innovation is necessary.