We review the literature on national innovation systems. We first focus on the emergence of the concept of innovation …). After this, we discuss how the notion of innovation systems filled a need for providing a broader basis for innovation … policy. We conclude with some perspectives on the future of the innovation systems literature. …

Innovation is often seen as carried out by highly educated labor in R&D intensive companies with strong ties to leading … centers of excellence in the scientific world. Seen from this angle innovation is a typical “first world” activity. There is …, however, another way to look at innovation that goes significantly beyond this high-tech picture. In this broader perspective …