In today's global market with increasing competition and rapid technological development, innovation has become essential for a company's competitive edge and survival. "Innovation is a necessity in today’s global business environment, not just for firms that plan to market globally, but for small businesses in specialized markets, as well” (Claibourn, 2007), so “get innovative or get dead” (Peters, 1991). Innovation also has a self-strengthening power and dynamic in that innovation and growth attract expertise that can further innovation.

The logic, structures and processes which are the foundation of large organizations' current operations, at best, promote incremental changes (Buijs, 2007), but can be directly detrimental to innovation in general (Kanter, 1985).

Innovation is therefore difficult to manage and control, since the logic, processes and structures for each individual element of innovation fall outside of current established practices. Innovation is, in other words, complex and requires consciousness and adaptation in the entire chain and at all levels of an organization (Burgelman and Sayles, 1986).

Innovation management is managing the various processes with the intention of creating an overview of the systems and processes that further innovation in an organization, and at the same time also an overview of the structures and processes which should be changed in order to promote innovation. Elements of an innovation analysis will create an understanding of what drives innovation, how it is managed and measured, and which strategies are used to promote development and innovation, including how organizations secure their intellectual property rights.

Agder Research has developed a tool to analyze these processes.

Agder Research has experienced increased requests for innovation expertise and has established a new programme and academic area in innovation management to meet this need. Over the past six months, four new employees have been recruited, and there are now six people (two of whom hold PhDs) working on research and development in this area. We will cooperate closely with Teknova, the University of Agder and companies in the region to secure optimal expertise in the various areas of the innovation process and management of this process.