EFFECT OF CORPORATE SCIENTISTS ON FIRMS’ INNOVATION ACTIVITY: A LITERATURE REVIEW

This study reviews the literature on the effect of corporate scientists on firms’ innovation activities. Traditionally, the scientist's role in a firm is linked to the processes of generation and absorption of scientific knowledge. However, a growing number of studies over the years show that the scientist's role in firm innovation processes is more extensive and that they contribute to the development of successful new products, processes and services. However, there are no comprehensive reviews of this literature. This paper fills the gap by providing a systematic review of the empirical literature on the role of the corporate scientists in the innovation process by investigating: (1) theoretical approaches used to evaluate the impact of scientists, (2) the importance for the firm's innovation activity of scientists’ heterogeneity, (3) those firm innovation activities over which scientists exhibit more influence, (4) the variables moderating the effect of scientists and (5) research implications for managers.