Innovation diffusion: research agenda for developing economies

This paper reviews the literature on innovation to build an agenda for research on innovation diffusion in developing countries. The main ideas on innovation diffusion are discussed, aiming at identifying the key aspects that determine the introduction and development of new technologies in an economy. Analysis of the literature suggests that innovation diffusion depends on three contextual aspects that are economy and government, technology strategies of firms, and management of innovation. Based on this analysis, four areas for research on the subject are identified, aiming at increasing the knowledge about mechanisms and approaches of innovation diffusion in developing countries. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.