230153 VO Politics of Innovation and its Institutional Dimensions: Central Issues, Questions and Concepts (2016W)

Talk of 'innovation' has proliferated in the past decades: political declarations of intention and economic growth strategies as well as marketing strategies of firms and social movements build on 'innovation' for their success. Used in such different contexts, what is actually meant by 'innovation' is becoming increasingly unclear. This lecture explores how meanings of innovation have developed historically in relation to the social, political and economical contexts. Back in the 17th century, innovation meant political change, reform and revolution and was rather 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 and as something central to wealth, wellbeing and (sometimes even) survival. This lecture traces the historical development of institutional dimensions that made this contemporary understanding of innovation so dominant and discusses questions that are connected to it, such as: How is it (made) possible to measure and own innovation? Or, how are concepts that are central to innovation policies today (e.g. the 'National Innovation System' approach) challenged, e.g. by the increasingly international dimension of science, technology and innovation? The lecture will also address alternative understandings of innovation, like the concept of 'frugal innovation', that has become commonly used on the Indian subcontinent and claims to 'contrast(s) sharply with the conventional approach' (Planning Commission 2013) or social movements’ ways of appropriating the term and reclaiming a meaning of social change, reform or revolution.