In this paper the concept of industrial emergence is explored from the perspective of a supply network. The translation of scientific and technical ideas and innovation into global products and services is the key to emergence, and capturing value from this is of vital economic importance. The appropriate configuration, or in some cases reconfiguration, of supply network elements is a critical part of this process. This initial study examines one of the key industrial areas which is currently the focus of global technical innovation, that of the photovoltaic industry. A technologically differentiated market, it has several intriguing facets, such as the co-existence of multiple generations of technology each with their own applications space and very different value chains supporting them. The initial investigation looks at how one key supply actor has reconfigured its value chain in order to diversify from its core business, semiconductor equipment manufacturing, and move into the energy sector, generating in the process a new supply network. Our initial findings show that the diversification was enabled by reconfiguration of the entire supply network structure and a paradigm shift in the positioning of the focal company in the value chain. We examine the push and pull factors driving this change, and the potential implications for UK industry.
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