The changing nature of innovation

In this chapter, we seek to unravel the societal presence of innovation and to trace the changes and shifts of innovation since the middle of the twentieth century. We do so by attending to the changing configurations between discourses, policies and practices of innovation along four historical lines. First, we discuss changes in the societal experience of innovation. Secondly, we emphasise the values and ideologies underpinning the belief in innovation. Thirdly, we pay attention to the performative role of promises and expectations. And finally, we pay attention to the societal presence of theories of innovation at the intersection of academic, societal and policy debates. In doing so, we throw light on the ways in which the belief in innovation has shaped modern society and been reshaped in due course, and we draw attention to the implications for the practices of Technology Assessment.