ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors argue that innovation is part of a much broader agenda involving business and workforces, research and educational institutions, public agencies and the community as a whole. However, this traditional approach to the scope of innovation is far too narrow. A wider process of innovation in policies, programs and institutions clearly is essential for addressing the challenges that societies face. This raises issues about who the innovators are and what processes lead to innovation. Innovation is a broader and looser concept than is often realised. It refers to the use of new ideas, and existing knowledge and other resources, to create value doing something new that is useful in some way. The characteristics of innovation have long made it difficult for an adequate concept of innovation to be integrated into economic theory—as innovation is the major driver of economic growth, that is a serious difficulty.
