Purpose
This paper aims to contribute to the debate of knowledge spillover by presenting a new application for the approach of the technological innovation system (TIS).
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the evolutionary economics of the TIS approach, a new framework for knowledge spillover is built and applied to a case. To collect data in studying the case, a mix of quantitative–qualitative methods are used.
Findings
TIS approach can help build a framework to analyze knowledge spillover from defense to the civil sector. This framework shows the direct relationship between the functional dynamics of the system and the spillover mechanism..
Research limitations/implications
Sharing the same weakness as TIS, the suggested framework does not pay attention to the contextual factors.
Practical implications
This framework is an analytical tool. It could be used for educational and research purposes, but it has limited power to devise policy guidelines.
Social implications
This framework is an analytical tool. It could be used for educational and research purposes. But it has limited power to devise policy guidelines.
Originality/value
The paper deviates from the conventional literature of knowledge spillover which uses national level of system analysis. Based on TIS, it adds a new perspective to the literature which had suffered from a limited value of generalizability.
Transitions in water harvesting practices in Jordan’s rainfed agricultural systems: Systemic problems and blocking mechanisms in an emerging technological innovation system