Copyright 2007 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Innovation science a primer.pdf

140 Int. J. Computer Application in Technology, Vol. 28, Nos. 2-3, 2007 Copyright ? 2007 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Innovation science: a primer Andrew Kusiak Intelligent Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 3131 Seamans Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 – 1527, USA E-mail: andrew-kusiak@ Abstract: The term innovation resonates broadly in cyberspace, books and journals. A careful analysis of the vast open-source information indicates that the engineering literature on underlying science of innovation is limited. Innovations in any domain can be enhanced by principles and insights from different disciplines. However, the process of identifying the linkages between the diverse disciplines and the target domain is not well understood. The innovation process and conditions triggering innovation set the stage for economic progress. This paper contributes to better understanding of the process of innovation by introducing basic innovation models. The ideas outlined provide a roadmap for areas of future study, as innovation science can provide a pathway for industries to be able to successfully compete in the global market. Keywords: data mining; evolutionary computation; innovation process; innovation science; knowledge discovery. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Kusiak. A (2007) ‘Innovation science: a primer’, Int. J. Computer Application in Technology, Vol. 28, Nos. 2-3, pp.140–149. Biographical notes: Andrew Kusiak is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. His research interests include applications of computational intelligence in automation, energy, manufacturing, product development and healthcare. He has published numerous books and technical papers in journals sponsored by professional societies, such as AAAI, ASME, IEEE, IIE, ESOR, IFIP, IFAC, INFORMS, ISPE and SME. Frequently, he