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Towards a broad understanding of innovation and its importance for innovation policy

Author

Listed:
  • Dirk Meissner

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Wolfgang Polt

    (Joanneum Research)

  • Nicholas S. Vonortas

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics
    The George Washington University
    University of Campinas)

Abstract

This paper considers the changes in the concept of innovation during recent decades and the degree to which such changes have been of significance to innovation policy. We observe that: (1) the notion of innovation in research, statistics, and policy is becoming increasingly broad; (2) while this broader notion is conceptually more adequate for understanding the complexity of innovation activity, it also makes it increasingly difficult to gain a clear, unambiguous picture of innovation activity; (3) policy concepts built upon this extended understanding of innovation are becoming more complex in terms of governance capacities, coordination capabilities, and evidence-based policy formulation. The broad perception of innovation will, in fact, require substantial innovations in political and administrative systems to apply.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk Meissner & Wolfgang Polt & Nicholas S. Vonortas, 2017. "Towards a broad understanding of innovation and its importance for innovation policy," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(5), pages 1184-1211, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:42:y:2017:i:5:d:10.1007_s10961-016-9485-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-016-9485-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Thais Assis de Souza & Rodrigo Marçal Gandia & Bruna Habib Cavazza & André Grützmann & Isabelle Nicolaï, 2020. "A Conceptual Proposal for Responsible Innovation," Post-Print hal-03014720, HAL.
    3. Sun, Yutao & Jiang, Lin & Cao, Cong & Tseng, Fang-Mei, 2024. "From contributors to boundary spanners: Evolving roles of government agencies in China’s innovation policy network (1980–2019)," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    4. Landoni, Matteo, 2020. "Knowledge creation in state-owned enterprises," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 77-85.
    5. Del Giudice, Manlio & Scuotto, Veronica & Papa, Armando & Singh, Sanjay Kumar, 2023. "The ‘bright’ side of innovation management for international new ventures," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    6. Audretsch, David Bruce & Belitski, Maksim & Guerrero, Maribel, 2022. "The dynamic contribution of innovation ecosystems to schumpeterian firms: A multi-level analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 975-986.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation; Innovation policy; Perception of innovation; Innovation paradigms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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