Evolutionary essence of innovations

Abstract

The presented research belongs to the sphere of evolutionary economics. It indicates that it is innovation that is the trigger for the evolution of both the economy as a whole and its individual industries and regions. The maximum evolutionary effect of innovation is the transition of the economy to a new technological order. Equally important is the role of innovation in the social development of society. They change not only the means of transport, communication, education and medicine, but also the way of life habitual for society. The difference between the terms «innovation» and «innovation» is defined. The classification of innovations is considered, proceeding from their evolutionary component. Innovations with qualitative and quantitative evolutionary effect, innovations with the effect of social and spatial evolution are singled out. An analysis of the evolutionary essence of innovations, determined in the works of well-known authors, is carried out. Such as J. Schumpeter, N.D. Kondratiev, R. Nelson, S. Winter, and others. Influence of diffusion of innovations on the process of territorial evolution is determined. The types of diffusion of innovations with characteristics of each of them are described. It is indicated that in the process of changing business-routines there is a dual essence of innovations. It consists in that, on the one hand, innovations are external factors of evolution, and on the other hand – by its internal factors. The role of multiplicative effects as a mechanism that changes the trajectory of the development of the innovation process, making it less predictable and, accordingly, difficult to manage, is defined.