innovationsstudier

Innovationsstudier is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the origins, development, diffusion, and impact of innovations across economic, social, and political contexts. It examines how new products, services, processes, or business models emerge, who drives them, and how institutions shape their success or failure.

The field draws on economics, sociology, management, political science, and science and technology studies. Theoretical perspectives include evolutionary and institutional economics, network and systems theories, and actor-network theory. Methodologically, innovationsstudier uses case studies, longitudinal studies, comparative analysis, and mixed methods, combining quantitative indicators (patents, R&D intensity, adoption rates) with qualitative insights from interviews, ethnography, and document analysis.

Typical topics include innovation systems and ecosystems, policy design and governance, financing and venture capital, open and user-driven innovation, digital transformation, sustainability-oriented innovation, and regional development. Researchers study actors such as firms, researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, users, and intermediary organizations; and institutions such as incentive structures, education, and regulation.

Applications include informing innovation policy, corporate strategy, regional planning, and public administration. Critiques emphasize measurement challenges, context sensitivity, and the risk of overgeneralizing innovation outcomes across sectors and countries.