Technological Innovation - An Introduction

The book introduces technological (commercial) innovation, beginning with what it is and is not, and how it is connected to economic growth. It then covers the pathways by which such innovations are created, the origins from which most of them arise, models of innovation generation, enablers and limitations governing success rates, and approaches to integrating innovation into new product development. At the organizational level, the book introduces the management of innovation and innovation culture, barriers, and strategy. At a higher level, the book covers innovation ecosystems, the institutional players and how they can optimally interact, the global eras and waves of innovation, and where they fi t in the technological ages of human history. This all comes together in an overview of innovation outputs and impacts at the organizational, regional, and national levels, and the connections to productivity and competitiveness. This edition also includes an extensive dictionary.

Dr. Laurier L. Schramm has substantial executive leadership and management, and R&D leadership and management experience, having worked in each of the industry, not-for-profit, university, and government sectors – including having served as President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) for 18 years. Prior to that he served as Vice President of the Alberta Research Council (ARC), President and CEO of the Petroleum Recovery Institute (PRI), and Senior Research Scientist at Syncrude Canada Ltd. For many years, he served in parallel as Adjunct Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and before that Adjunct Professor of Chemistry, both with the University of Calgary.

In the fields of science, engineering, and technological innovation, he has published 19 science and technology books, holds 17 patents, and has over 180 other publications. Many of these are in petroleum science and engineering, and many of the inventions have been adopted into commercial practice in the petroleum industry (in Canada and internationally). He received a Milestone of Canadian Chemistry in the 20^th Century Award from the Canadian Society for Chemistry for the development of oil-tolerant foams for enhanced oil recovery. He was co-founder and past Board Chair of Innoventures Canada Inc., co-founder of Canada’s Innovation School^®, and has been a member of numerous expert STEM and innovation advisory panels.

He has also been a strong proponent of university-industry R&D collaboration, having received one of the first NSERC-Conference Board Synergy Awards for Best Practices in University-Industry R & D Partnership, and has a long history of volunteer service to key components of Canada’s innovation system, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, and including serving on the Boards of Directors and/or executive committees of more than a dozen science and technology organizations.

He has received major national and international awards for his work, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, and Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. He is also a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Honorary Life Member of the Engineering Institute of Canada, and Life Member of the Association of the Chemical Profession of Alberta, among others.