Towards integrative innovation models

Abstract

Innovation and innovative competences have long been recognized to be one of the basic competitiveness and long-term profitability factors, from the firm level up to national and global economy level. Having in mind that innovation, generally, represents the process from idea to realization, the paper is concerned with the key elements of innovation process models in today's knowledge-driven economy. Contemporary, network and integrative innovation models should be based on the relation between the firm, strategy and environment i.e. the firm should be linked with the environment by means of strategy, which represents a mediating force - the firm is responding to market requests driven by its strategic concept. Integrative models for 21st century should overcome basic weaknesses of conventional linear technology-push and market-pull approach, taking into account the possibilities of proactive innovation strategy, networking and external linkages of the firm.