Stimulating innovation in large companies: Observations and recommendations for Belgium

This article summarizes the results of a large scale research which was conducted in 41 large Belgian companies. One hundred thirty-one innovation projects were studied in order to bring to light the factors encouraging or inhibiting the innovation process in large companies.
A stage-model of the innovation process is proposed, including the following phases: perception of the idea, conceptualization, development and operationalization. Favourable and unfavourable factors are emphasized at each stage. On the basis of these conclusions, recommendations are drawn which are aimed at managers, the public authorities, the universities and the trades unions. These recommendations concern three areas: increasing the technical-economic forecasting capacity of the companies and of the economic community at large; stimulating the research efforts inside and outside the firm; organizing the innovation development process within the firm.