Until now, there has been relatively little empirical evidence on the role of social relations in innovation and innovation policies. Lack of innovation is not necessarily caused by lack of technology or unwillingness to innovate, but often, because of a lack of supportive social capital between the actors. This book analyzes this urgent problem, and proposes models and measures for better regulation.

Introduction The Meaning and Importance of Socio-Cultural Context for Innovation Performance Frane Adam and Hans Westlund Part I: The Cultural and Cognitive Framework of Innovation 1. Culture and Cognition: The Foundations of Innovation in Modern Societies Marian Adolf, Jason Mast and Nico Stehr 2. Socially Responsible Science and Innovation in Converging Technologies Toni Pustovrh 3. Culture Impact on Innovation: Econometric Analysis of European Countries Pedro Ferreira, Elvira Vieira and Isabel Neira 4. Communities as Spaces of Innovation Joanne Roberts Part II: Innovation and Social Capital: A Reconsideration of Conceptual and Methodological Dilemmas 5. National and Regional Innovation Capacity Through the Lens of Social Capital: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis of Recent Empirical Studies Frane Adam 6. Collaboration in Innovation Systems and the Significance of Social Capital Hans Westlund and Yuheng Li 7. Learning in Regional Networks: The Role of Social Capital Roel Rutten and Dessy Irawati Part III: Case Studies 8. Independent Inventors and Their Position in the National/ Regional Innovation System: A Case Study of Slovenia Angela Ivancic, Darka Podmenik, Alja Adam and Ana Hafner 9. "Individuals" Networks and Regional Renewal: A Case Study of Social Dynamics and Innovation in Twente Paul Benneworth and Roel Rutten Discussion and Conclusion Instead of a Conclusion: Society, Culture and Innovation: Themes for Future Studies Frane Adam and Hans Westlund

Frane Adam is Head of the Research Centre at the Institute for Developmental and Strategic Analyses (IRSA), Ljubljana, Slovenia; Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; and Professor at the School of Advanced Social Studies, Nova Gorica, Slovenia.

Hans Westlund is Professor at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology), Stockholm, Sweden; JIBS (Jönköping International Business School), Jönköping, Sweden; and IRSA (Institute for Developmental and Strategic Analyses), Ljubljana, Slovenia.