Innovation studies in the 21st century;: Questions from a user's
perspective
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 69 (9):
861-883 (2002/12)Аннотация
Science-based innovations have played an important role in our society
for centuries. In this paper, after a discussion of the concept of
innovation, changes in three major developments in the context of
innovation processes are analysed: structural changes in our economy,
the broadening of decision-making processes and the emergence of
the network society, and changes in the knowledge infrastructure.
On the basis of this analysis, questions and challenges confronting
the players involved in innovation processes and the management of
them are identified and topics for a research agenda for innovation
researchers that take into account the needs of these players are
formulated. The focus is on the macro and meso level, and the broadening
of decision-making on innovation processes acts as an important guiding
principle. Three lines of research are distinguished on the research
agenda: (1) empirical studies of innovation processes and systems,
(2) critical reflection on innovation theory, and (3) analysis and
support of decision-making processes. With regard to the first line,
case studies of innovation in services, life sciences, the relationship
between ICT and sustainability and the identification of (intangible)
throughput and output indicators are on the agenda. The reflection
on theory (line 2) focuses primarily on innovation in chains and
clusters, the role of (knowledge intensive) intermediaries and the
interaction between processes and systems. Furthermore, innovation
studies should also try to contribute towards endogenisation of innovation
in other scientific disciplines. With regard to the analysis and
support of decision-making processes (line 3), strategic intelligence
providing insight into the potential, application and implementation
of new technologies and the development of instruments to support
players in innovation processes are addressed. An important basic
assumption of this paper is that innovation studies should not only
strive to deepen the insight into innovation processes and systems,
but also to contribute to the development of insights, concepts,
methods, techniques and instruments to support various players involved
in innovation processes. The major conclusion of this paper is that
shifts in the context of innovation processes, more particularly
the emergence of the ‘porous society’, will lead to a radical transformation
of innovation systems in which (knowledge intensive) intermediaries
and the quality of the interface between users and producers play
an increasingly important role.
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