The aim of this paper is to elucidate the innovation processes of technology development across the Valley of Death. Hitherto, studies of the innovation process for this difficult early phase in technology development have implied a linear progression or have privileged the contribution of intermediaries channelling government-funded support. By making use of process theories, and pursing a novel action research methodology with all innovation actors involved in the Valley of Death transition, then a wider processual perspective is realised. This paper adopts a realist evaluation approach in order to integrate the findings from six different technology development projects. By these means, we suggest that crossing the Valley of Death implies the successful completion of five distinct innovation processes. We construct a conceptual framework constituted of the five innovation processes, and argue there is more than one pathway for crossing the Valley of Death. Finally, we offer practical implications for innovation management at this phase of technology development.

本文旨在阐明死亡谷技术发展的创新过程。迄今为止，对技术发展这一困难早期阶段的创新过程的研究暗示了线性进展，或者优先考虑了提供政府资助支持的中介机构的贡献。通过利用过程理论，并与参与死亡谷转型的所有创新参与者一起寻求一种新颖的行动研究方法，然后实现了更广泛的过程视角。本文采用现实主义的评估方法，以整合来自六个不同技术开发项目的发现。通过这些方式，我们认为穿越死亡谷意味着五个不同的创新过程的成功完成。我们构建了一个由五个创新过程构成的概念框架，并认为穿越死亡之谷的途径不止一条。最后，我们为这一技术发展阶段的创新管理提供了实际意义。