Is there innovation beyond R&D? The role played by other innovation activities

Abstract

Although R&D has been highlighted as the main and indisputable source of firm-level innovations, an important group of firms develop innovations without performing R&D activities. The primary goal of this study is to understand the sources of innovation in such firms. To accomplish this goal, we explore the role played by other, non-R&D activities that can lead to innovation – activities such as design, training, technology forecasting and the use of advanced machinery.