Innovation is the turning of ideas into concrete realities. To the extent that this process is an economic one, it must also be subject to political decisions, and these determine which ideas are to have resources made available for their in novation. This book attempts to trace the relationship between ideas, resources and politics. Chapter I deals with the way economic innovation depends both upon markets and upon interference with markets. Schumpeter taught us how market power is essential for innovation. This chapter stresses that the inverse is also true: Innovation can take place...

1 When in the late seventies the Commission started its preparatory work on a plan of action(l) for the creation of a real Community Innovation market, obviously the question came up, how patents or industrial property could specifically help in stimulating technological and industrial innovation and technology transfer in the Community. From an earlier contractor's study(2) about possible items of action in patent law for the improvement of the impact of patents and patenting upon innovation, it was clear that, in principle, there was room for improvement but shortage of information as to...