ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the empirical investigation. Thomas Alva Edison is generally considered one of the most famous innovators of all time. He patented more than a thousand inventions, including major innovations like the phonograph, the incandescent electric lamp, and the microphone. The high-tech industry, in particular, abounds with examples of promising young firms that captured the imagination of the public with an innovative product, but failed to capture a significant part of the market and thus turn their promise into profit. The last decade has seen a veritable upsurge in the number of both scientific and popular publications about innovations. In recent years, the popular press started a real flood of publications about innovations as well. One obvious reason for all this attention is that innovations readily capture the imagination and have a certain romantic flavour. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
