Technological networks as complex systems: their management by application of control theory

In this paper, the authors describe the main factors which make technological networks a complex phenomenon-the view of technology as knowledge, the multiplicity of interactions between agents intervening in the network and the resulting structural heterogeneity and, finally, the presence of "conflicts of interest" in technology network management-and analyse these from a systemic perspective, through the diverse economic factors which affect technological network efficiency and stability. Also suggested is the need to develop dynamic control systems for proper technological network management and to mitigate possible disturbances