Skills required for innovation: A review of the literature

Petr Hanel ()

Cahiers de recherche from Departement d'économique de l'École de gestion à l'Université de Sherbrooke

Abstract: This review of the innovation literature seeks to identify the role of skilled labor in the process of innovation and technological change. After an introduction of main innovation theories, the role of skills is analyzed from several perspectives: (1) Independent innovator – entrepreneur; skills deployed and needed; the role of education (2)Firm –the contribution of skilled labor to innovation from within the firm and from external sources. (3) Regional systems of innovation - Endowment of regions and cities in human resources, regional/local labour markets and knowledge spillovers (4) National systems of Innovation- national institutions and policies regarding human resources, labour markets, education system and various aspects of economic and technological infrastructure. (5) Technological milieu. - skilled labor involved in innovation evolves in various environments such as scientific, technical and trade associations, formal and informal contacts. (6) Scientific base.- The role of industry-university and public-private research collaboration in innovation. (7) Is innovation skill-biased?. The second part of the study looks at findings of recent studies of innovation and technology adoption in Canadian manufacturing and services with regard to skilled labor. Also addressed is the impact of innovation on skills. The shortage of skilled labor is widely recognised as an obstacle to innovation and adoption new technologies, especially by firms that introduce the most original innovations and the most advanced technologies. Overall, the innovation literature offers little in terms of concrete general information on particular skills needed for successful innovation. The paper concludes with a critical assessment of shortcomings of innovation and related surveys with regard to information on skilled labor and its role in innovation and technology adoption.

Keywords: Innovation; skills; national innovation systems; labour market; education of innovation; effect of innovation on skills (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 J44 L6 L8 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2007
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-edu, nep-hrm and nep-knm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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http://gredi.recherche.usherbrooke.ca/wpapers/GREDI-0723.pdf First version, 2007 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Skills required for innovation: A review of the literature (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:shr:wpaper:07-23

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