Innovation in industry: a discussion of the state-of-art and the results of innovation research in german-speaking countries

The subject discussed in this paper is the state-of-the-art and the results of those research activities which concentrate on the process of the research, development and application of new technologies, a process which is influenced by and which depends on a variety of factors. The paper centers around research activities carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1970's. On the basis of as many as thirteen problem areas, research activities concerning three system levels are dealt with: manpower and resources directly connected with the innovation process, the organization to which these factors belong and finally the social and natural environment of this organization. In addition to the three levels, on the elements, structure and process variables of which the problem areas are based, the results of the innovation processes, which become apparent in the form of progress and other effects, are discussed. Analysis of the thirteen problem areas shows that the effects of the innovation processes, once they are accomplished, can be examined quite successfully, whereas research on the process itself as well as the influence exerted on this process by the organization and the social environment, have not yet brought about satisfactory empirical results. Although empirical results are available with regard to partial problems, research gaps are abundant in this field. As a consequence, innovation policy rests on a rather uncertain basis.