Figure 1. Biotechnology sector’s knowledge base Target Identification EST, Expression Arrays, Positional cloning, SNPs, Proteomics, Transcriptomics, Transgene, Pathway Analysis, Animal Models, Konck-in/out, Systems bioloy, Cheomogenomics, Structural genomics, Homology Modeling, Bioinformatics, Phage display, Metabolomics, Antisense, RNAi, Microarrays Target Discovery Target Validation Lead Identification Combinatorial Chemistry, Chemical Libraries, Natural Products, In silico modeling, Microtechnology, Robotics, Microassys, Detection systems, Chemoinformatics, Molecular Modeling, Medicinal Chemistry, ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion), Toxicity, High Throughput Screening, High Throughput Profiling Drug Discovery Lead Optimization Pre-clinical & Development Candidate Development Toxoicogenomics, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacogenetics, Animal testing, Carcinogenicity, Biomarkers, Cell-based assays

Information Management Knowledge Generation Reiteration Technology Sourcing Information Management Knowledge Generation Exploration Organizational framework Exploitation Firm based on sole technology: Competitive Positioning Firm based on knowledge accumulation: Competitive Sustainability Flexibility: Revision of initial business plan in face of uncertainty Figure 2. Organizational learning process in the drug discovery process

Combinatorial Chemistry Harmonization Structural Biology Information Generation Harmonization Information Toxicity Generation I NTEGRAT ON Harmonization Information ADME Generation Harmonization Information Profiling Generation PROCESS ING Harmonization Generation Information HTS Harmonization Knowledge Creation Generation Information Microarray Harmonization Generation Proteomics Information Harmonization Generation Information Genomics Harmonization Functional Genomics Generation Information Harmonization Combinatorial Chemistry Generation Information Harmonization Figure 3 In silico Chemistry Generation Information

Information Management Discovery & Preclinical phases Development & Approvals phases Information Management - Standardization - Data Integrity Knowledge Generation - Integration - Processing Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Regulatory Reiteration - Identification - Selection - Validation Technology Sourcing Figure 4