Technological revolutions and techno-economic paradigms

This paper locates the notion of technological revolutions in the neoSchumpeterianeffort to understand innovation and to identify the regularities, continuities anddiscontinuities in the process of innovation. It looks at the micro- and mesofoundationsof the patterns observed in the evolution of technical change and at theinterrelations with the context that shape the rhythm and direction of innovation. Onthis basis it defines technological revolutions, examines their structure and the rolethat they play in rejuvenating the whole economy through the application of theaccompanying techno-economic paradigm. This over-arching metaparadigm orshared best practice ‘common sense’ is in turn defined and analyzed in itscomponents and its impact, including its influence on institutional and socialchange.