Governmental policies and technological innovation: biotechnology and fast breeder reactor technology revisited

Introduction Although governmental innovation policies are historically a rather new phenomenon (Mayntz 2001: 13), the crucial role of the government in innovation processes is being discussed more and more within innovation literature. It is argued that governments influence innovation processes proactively and to a great extent (Hilpert 1991a: 4; Mazzucato 2011: 70). This is especially true for the initial phase of innovation processes, since basic research is the most important source of innovation (Rammert 1992: 22), but is also valid for further phases of innovation.