ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the entanglement of technoscience and capitalism, specifically as it relates to the concept of biocapital. It frames the bioeconomy as not primarily based on biophysical materialities or "liveliness", but rather as underpinned by an array of social practices and networks. The chapter analyses the key concepts such as biocapital and biovalue, before outlining the concept of mediating devices as an alternative analytical tool for understanding genomics and techno-economic networks. It focuses on the confusion of political-economic terms; the conceptual gap in theorizing assets; and the evaluation process of these assets. The chapter examines the complexity of the modern biotechnology and its relationship to capitalism through a discussion of the role of different mediating devices at play in the organization of research and innovation. It highlights the range of social practices and networks that underpin research and innovation in the biological sciences.
