ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on theories of innovation in relation to science and technology policy. Many innovation theories are subject to what might be called a commercial bias; for many of those who seek to analyze it, innovation has come to mean the creation of new marketable commodities. Part of the difficulty in defining innovation derives from the fact that science and technology, the essential ingredients of any innovation process or "chain," mean different things to different people. Science and technology policies are primarily seen as aspects of other societal policies. Science and technology policy can be considered the responsibility of the meso level - of the research councils, scientific and technological academies and various advisory commissions that are a conspicuous element in the contemporary policy landscape. As with most areas of social and historical analysis, theorizing about scientific and technical innovation is largely a 19th and 20th century activity.
