In memory of Chris Freeman Founding Editor of Research Policy, 1971-2003

摘要

This issue of Research Policy (RP) is dedicated to the memory of Professor Christopher Freeman, who founded the journal 40 years ago. In the months immediately following his death on 16 August 2010, aged 88, there were discussions among the RP Editors and others about the most appropriate way to mark his passing. By that time, obituaries in five British newspapers (The Times, The Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and The Independent) had already paid tribute to the many facets and stages of his life. We were also aware that further tributes of this type were planned in other academic journals. It was therefore decided that Research Policy would instead publish a substantial article reviewing and setting in context his various roles in contributing to the emerging field of innovation studies. Jan Fagerberg kindly offered to take the lead in compiling this tribute (Fagerberg et al., in this issue).