A conceptual analysis of conditions for innovation in the process industries and a guiding framework for industry collaboration and further research

摘要

The process industries span multiple industrial sectors and constitute a substantial part of the entire manufacturing industry. In a review of the extant literature related to process-industrial production and innovation characteristics, the process industries construct has been analysed and redefined. Since the process industries are a large part of the LMT industries and of significant importance for late-industrialising countries and also constitute a considerable part of the most R&D investment-intensive companies worldwide, it is advocated that studying innovation in this cluster of industries in a cross-sectoral approach is an interesting avenue to follow. It was concluded that operations and innovation management in this family of industries will benefit from methods, tools and best practices more adapted to the process industry-specific context. As a consequence of these findings, a framework aiming at guiding and invigorating further process-industrial research was introduced together with policy implications.