Drivers and Patterns of Change in Systems and Innovation Research

This chapter draws overall conclusions across all the contributions to this volume. Its first aim is to characterise each of the nine analysed systems and innovation research fields (SIR fields) in terms of their patterns and dynamics of change. How and why have the respective research questions and approaches evolved, and how has the role of each field vis-à-vis policy changed? The second aim is to draw overall conclusions concerning the dynamics of change across the fields. To achieve these two aims, the chapter first develops a change model of system and innovation research that is then applied to all fields. This model defines four drivers of change in the fields, i.e. policy processes, contextual developments, theoretical developments and developments in data and methods. It also takes into consideration the relationship of the SIR fields to traditional academic fields that were established prior to the evolution of our fields. Although we find some dynamics specific to each field, we also identify commonalities and similar patterns across the fields, mirroring the overarching zeitgeist changes of the last 50 years. The chapter closes with a few speculations and normative claims regarding the future development of our nine fields.