Wealth from Knowledge: Studies of Innovation in Industry [Hardcover]

This book is based on a study of 84 technological innovations that won Queen's Awards in 1966 and 1967. Nearly 40 of these are presented as well-documented but readable case histories. The topics range from new antibiotics to fast patrol boats, from an improved way of making bread to aircraft equipment, from new building materials and techniques to scientific instruments, from automatic gearboxes to guided missiles. Many points of interest are covered in the discussion. Is innovation more often 'pushed' by scientific or technological discoveries or more often 'pulled' by the needs of the market or of management? Is is true that outstanding individuals are necessary for success? Is it true that the time-lag between discovery and exploitations is shortening? Can one specify optimum sizes for research teams? What is the role of basic reseach? These are some of the issues raised in the course of a wide-ranging discussion of factors affecting technological innovation.Preface PART ONE: GENERAL DISCUSSION Wealth from knowledge Uncertainty Our investigation Sources of technological innovation Multiple sources Roles of individuals in innovation Independent inventors The institutional environment Managers and creative researchers The question of research group size Demarcation difficulties Variations over time Time-Sharing The myth of discreteness Interactions between different organisations University research Government research Government finance Licensing between firms Role of customers Overlap of objectives Roles of science in innovation The Byatt-Cohen method tested Routes for economic benefits from science Justifications for basic science Technology transfer Development of technology Models of technology transfer Practical considerations Relations of research to marketing Market-oriented R&D Reservations about market orientation References for Part One PART TWO: SOME QUANTITATIVE RESULTS The Queen's Award scheme What kinds of innovations? Factors enabling Award-winl=