230154 VO Politics of Innovation and its Institutional Dimensions: Central Issues, Questions and Concepts (2014W)

The use of a terminology of 'innovation' has proliferated in the past decade. Today, political declarations of intention and economical growth strategies as well as marketing strategies of firms or social movements build on 'innovation' for their success. However, used in such different contexts, it is increasingly unclear, what we mean by addressing 'innovation'. This lecture will point to how historically the meaning of innovation has been changing and that it did so closely linked to the social, political and economical contexts in which it was used. Back in the 17th century, innovation meant political change, reform or revolution and was pejorative: the then only developing scientific profession was eager to write in line with Restauration values and 'novelty' in general was suspect (Godin 2014). This understanding is quite contrary to today’s hegemonic understanding of innovation as technological innovation for the market. This lecture traces historically the development of this understanding in its social, political and economic context and discusses the main questions and concepts that have accompanied it. It will however also shed light on understandings of innovation that challenge this dominant understanding: Such as for example the concept of 'frugal innovation' that has become used on the Indian subcontinent and claims to 'contrast(s) sharply with the conventional approach or social movements’ ways of appropriating the term and therewith partly reclaiming a meaning of social change, reform or revolution.'
Reference: Godin, Benoit (2014): Innovation and Science. Wen Science had nothing to do with Innovation and Vice-Versa, Project on the Intellectual History of Innovation, Working Paper No 16, p. 26, 33f.