It is essential to examine the organisational cultural framework of conditions for innovation. For this reason, the fundamental characteristics of a corporate culture and various types of innovation culture are presented below, and the leadership function in the context of cultural development is examined. Managers very often refer to the crucial importance of culture for the innovative strength of their company. But what exactly does this mean? What specific contribution do managers make to a ‘culture of innovation’? How can we move from the often very general claim of cultivating an ‘open culture’, an ‘open climate’, a ‘culture of trust’ or a ‘culture of error’ to the claim of a management culture that promotes innovation? Management leaders and corporate culture influence each other; innovation cultures cannot be lived ‘somehow’ openly.