Smart environments and smart growth: connecting innovation strategies and digital growth strategies

Abstract

This paper discusses the interface between innovation systems and digital systems. It is based on a literature review that examines how innovation and smart environments converge from the bottom up, and how innovation strategies and digital strategies are connected and shape a common set of objectives and actions for growth. Following an introduction which looks at the current outlook for growth, we focus on digital drivers of growth as outlined in various strands of the literature. We discuss the digital disruption of business practices, the use of digital tools and smart environments for innovation and new product development, the rise of cyber-physical infrastructures, and systems of innovation. We also examine how various types of innovation and digital strategies contribute to smart growth. In conclusion, we portray connectors and bridges between innovation and digital strategies, such as sector-specific smart environments, innovation over platforms, and digital solutions for collaborative product development.