Innovation and Knowledge Creation: Challenges to the Field

Abstract

We give an overview of the structure of this volume, highlighting important challenges to and imperfections of innovation research, within what sometimes appears to be a stable, mature field. Each of the subsequent sections corresponds to one of the parts of this edited volume. We begin by discussing the notion and our understanding of innovation, before highlighting the interrelationship between innovation and institutions, and the interdependence of innovation, novelty and creativity. This is followed by three sections that target innovation as a social process: innovation, networking and the role of communities; innovation in permanent spatial settings; and innovation in temporary and virtual settings. The last sections focus on the relationships between innovation, entrepreneurship and market making, and on wider governance and management issues of innovation, followed by some final remarks about the unique characteristics of this edited volume.