Why We Need an Holistic Innovation Policy

This chapter introduces the main idea of the book, namely, the theoretical foundations, the problem-oriented approach, and the focus on the instrument choices of an holistic innovation policy. The chapter argues that innovation studies have left unfinished the theoretical foundations for the design of innovation policy. The chapter also argues that a starting point for developing it is the identification of the problems that tend to afflict the performance of innovation systems and the ten determinants of innovation processes. This provides the basis for the choice of innovation policy instruments. The chapter provides a road map of the contents of the book.