Technology push and demand pull perspectives in innovation studies: Current findings and future research directions

Giada Di Stefano, Alfonso Gambardella and Gianmario Verona

Research Policy, 2012, vol. 41, issue 8, 1283-1295

Abstract: This study updates the debate on the sources of innovation. Using techniques like factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, and pathfinder analysis, we examine the most influential articles that have dealt with the topic. Our analysis provides three main findings. The first more precisely highlights the role of demand as a source of innovation. The second illustrates how competences enable firms to match technology with demand and capitalize on technology and demand as sources of innovation. The third unveils a distinction between external and internal sources of innovations. The sources of innovation can be purely external or internally generated competences that enable the firm to integrate external knowledge within its boundaries. Our work contributes to the classic debate by providing a more granular understanding of how technology and demand interact. In discussing our findings, we link our framework to strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship studies that expressly call for a better understanding of technology and demand factors in value creation and capture.

Keywords: Technology push; Demand pull, Innovation; Bibliometrics; Co-citation analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (145)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:41:y:2012:i:8:p:1283-1295

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2012.03.021

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