Linking development and innovation: What does technological change bring to the society

Recently, there has been a popular trend in academic research for paying more attention to pro-poor policies and theoretical studies. This tradition has emerged from a broader understanding of development that includes not only economic but also social and political dimensions. Meanwhile, innovation researchers are still considering development as mere economic growth without much focus on the social impacts of technological change. This article recognizes that, despite these fundamental differences, the concepts of innovation and development have much in common and are, in fact, positively connected and mutually beneficial. This assumption has some important implications for the innovation and development of policy-making process. The article concludes by arguing that the new cross-disciplinary approach is required in order to answer the questions posed here in a more meticulous way. © 2012 European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes.