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Keywords:

16 Studies in Human Society, General Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, 44 Human society

Abstract:

The objective of this first survey paper is to improve the theory of innovation systems from the perspective of the 'Knowledge Infrastructure' with its wealth of public and private agents, including research and technology organizations, universities and consultancies. It is argued that analysing these institutions as part of the knowledge infrastructure will significantly further the theory of multi-agent innovation dynamics within innovation systems. The paper considers the evolution of innovation dynamics over the last 30 years and focuses on the contributions of the EU RTD Framework Programmes on innovation theory. It highlights the role of new types of agents, new kinds of organizational, institutional and cultural innovation as well as the process character of innovation dynamics. © 2006 Interdisciplinary Centre for Comparative Research in the Social Sciences and ICCR Foundation.