R&D failure and second generation R&D: New potentialities

Date
2014
Authors
Callaghan, CW
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Abstract
Ample incentives exist for firms to pursue product, service, or process innovations to increase their profitability. In contrast, few incentives exist for firms to pursue innovations that provide social externalities if these are not inherently profitable. This article provides an argument that first generation research and development (R&D), or R&D that does not utilise economies of scale (as second generation R&D does), cannot effectively provide societal innovation that is not incentivised by market forces. An example of an alternative model for global societal problem solving, based on second generation R&D, is offered.
Description
Keywords
Social Innovation, Crowdsourcing, Radical Innovation, Process Innovation, Open Innovation
Citation
Callaghan, C. W. (2014). R&D failure and second generation R&D: New potentialities. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(3), 11-24