Part I: Introduction -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Conceptualizing and measuring modern biotechnology -- Part II: Setting the scene -- 3. Stylized facts about innovation processes in modern biotechnology -- 4. The post-genome era: rupture in the organization of the life science industry? -- 5. An overview of biotechnology innovation in Europe: firms, demand, government policy and research -- Part III: Challenging the existing -- 6. Risk management and the commercialization of human genetic testing in the UK -- 7. Networks and the technology systems in science-driven fields: the case of European food biotechnology -- 8. Future imperfect: the response of the insurance industry to the emergence of predictive genetic testing -- 9. Emergent bioinformatics and newly distributed innovation processes -- Part IV: Forming the new -- 10. The dynamics of regional specialization in modern biotechnology: comparing two regions in Sweden and two regions in Australia, 1977-2001 -- 11. On the spatial dimension of firm information -- 12. Examining the marketplace for ideas: how local are Europe's biotechnology clusters? -- 13. Creation and growth of high-tech SMEs: the role of the local environment -- Part V: Conclusions -- 14. Reflections and ways forward