Slides for talk on: Modelling Innovation – some options from probabilistic to radical

Given at the European Academy of Technology and Innovation Assessment, see notice about the talk at: https://www.ea-aw.de/service/news/2017/05/22/ea-kolloquium-prof-bruce-edmonds-vom-centre-forpolicy-modelling-cfpm-quotmodellier.html

Abstract:

In general, most modelling of innovation bypasses the creativity involved. Here I look at some of the different options. This loosely follows (but expands) Margaret Boden's analysis of creativity. Four ways are presented and their implementation discussed (a) probabilistic, where the 'innovation' simply corresponds to an unlikely event within a known distribution (b) combinatorial, where innovation is a process of finding the right combination of existing components or aspects (c) complex path-dependency where the path to any particular product is a complex set of decisions or steps and not deducible before it is discovered and (d) radical, where the innovation causes us to think of things in a new way or introduces a novel dimension in which to evaluate. A model of making things that introduces complex path-dependency will be exhibited. Some ways of moving towards (d) the most radical option are discussed and a future possible research agenda outlined.

Slides are at: https://www.slideshare.net/BruceEdmonds/modelling-innovation-some-options-from-probabilistic-to-radical