The Creation and Diffusion of Innovation in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, we review the literature on the creation and diffusion of innovation in the private sectors (industry and services) in developing countries. In particular, we collect evidence on what are the barriers to innovation creation and diffusion and the channels of innovation diffusion to and within developing countries. We find that innovation in developing countries is about creation or adoption of new ideas and technologies; but the capacity for innovation is embedded in and constituted by dynamics between geographical, socio-economic, political and legal subsystems. We contextualize the findings from the review in the current theoretical framework of diffusion of innovations, and we emphasize how the institutional context typical of developing countries impacts the diffusion itself.

Impacto dos investimentos em inovação na indústria brasileira

“…Segundo Morganti (2005) A importância estratégica da inovação para as empresas justifica o contínuo aumento das pesquisas nessa área (BECHEIKH et al, 2006;ZANELLO et al, 2016). No entanto, ainda não há um modelo preciso para um processo bem sucedido em inovação, ao nível da firma ou setorial (GOEDHUYS et al, 2014).…”

Innovation and productivity in formal and informal firms in Ghana

“…A recent literature review highlighted how most of the innovations in LICs have an adaptive or incremental nature, and, therefore, innovations in such settings are unlikely to leapfrog or redefine value creation processes (Zanello et al, 2015). In fact, given the limited financial and knowledge resources and absorptive capacity of firms in LICs R&D-based innovations are uncommon.…”

“…Until a decade ago, innovation in the private sector in LICs was the focus of only a handful of studies every year (Zanello et al, 2015). Until then, innovation was often associated with patents or ground-breaking disc overies.…”

Innovation for Inclusive Structural Change. A Framework and Research Agenda

“…Different actors are sources of ITT, among which foreign firms (Bell, 2009, Gereffi et al 2005, Hanlin and Kaplinsky 2016, Sasidharan and Kathuria 2011, Saliola and Zanfei 2009, Yeung and Coe 2015, Zanello et al 2015; foreign universities and research centres located in LICs (Li 2011, Lundvall 2007; technology transfer offices (Fu and Gong 2011) and intermediate services, among which are those that provide metrology, standards, testing and quality services (MSTQ) (Pietrobelli and Rabellotti 2011). Domestic firms are recipients of ITT but also actors for intra-national technology transfer.…”