Inventors, Innovators and Entrepreneurs

Successful innovation is not really just about transformative inventions, technology, products, processes, services, business or even markets—but rather it is all about people; those people who are the scientists, lay people and professional inventors, intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs and disruptive entrepreneurs. The need to understand the differences, motives, attributes and skills of these different groups is highlighted and consideration given to a range of biological, psychological and environmental influences that help define who they are and what makes them that way. The chapter sets the scene and explores the role and importance of the “people element” of innovation.