A study of innovation in the pesticide industry: Analysis of the innovation record of an industrial sector

Abstract This is a study of innovation in pesticides from 1930 to 1980. Innovation output indicators used are product innovation and patent counts. Innovations are evaluated in terms of originality and market success. Market demand is measured by the value of sales per year at constant prices. The distribution of these indicators over the 50 year period is compared and contrasted to the historical development of the sector. A number of hypotheses are proposed regarding the dynamics of the process of innovation, notably, the importance of market successful radical innovations as driving forces, the central role of large research intensive companies, the interplay between basic and applied research, and the effects of corporate technological traditions. Lastly, the potential, and some limitations in the use of patents as innovation output indicators are described.

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