Abstract

Current economic research on innovation, industrial dynamics and the evolution of industries can be grouped in two traditions which are different but linked: one (more traditional) could be labelled industrial dynamics, the other (more recent) structural evolution. Both traditions are rich of empirical, econometric and theoretical contributions. The paper claims that the two research traditions will converge in certain ways. The main part of the paper claims that the research challenges for a better understanding of the relationship between innovation and industry evolution concern a deeper analysis of knowledge, demand, networks and coevolution.