Innovation Policy Challenges for the 21st Century

Government is directly involved in the innovation process in terms of defining societal needs and how they are to be met. While government may be a key actor, however, the investment which it makes in innovation is small and declining. The shift from primarily resource-based to knowledge-based economies over previous decades has further changed the kinds of skills and competences now required to generate and maintain innovation. Entrepreneurship too has long been recognized as a key driver of innovation, competitiveness and economic growth, but entrepreneurs must be able to gain access to finance in order to set up companies, develop and exploit innovations. Innovation Challenges for the 21stCenturyexplores these and other contemporary issues in innovation, reviewing the state of the art literature and consolidating current thinking at the frontiers of innovation. The volume debates and presents scattered and anonymous material in a coherent way, with a particular focus is on #xE2;#xAC;#xDC;hot topics#xE2;#xAC;" in the field of innovation studies that have been previously under-researched. The book is divided into four key themes: government as a key actor in the innovation process, skills and competences required to maintain and improve innovation performance in Europe, entrepreneurs as innovators, and finally, the wider context in which innovation policy develops.