Innovation Quote by Eric von Hippel
““Innovation user and innovation manufacturer are the two general "functional" relationships between innovator and innovation. Users are unique in that they alone benefit directly from innovations. All others (here lumped under the term "manufacturers") must sell innovation-related products or services””
About This Quote
Source Article: "The Sources of Innovation" (1994)
Innovation involves two key functional roles: users who directly benefit and manufacturers who commercialize it.
In simple terms: Innovation has users and manufacturers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize both roles to foster effective innovation ecosystems.
Themes
innovation
user
manufacturer
economics
Mood
analytical
strategic
Type
theoretical
practical
When to use this quote
- Product development
- Technology transfer
- Entrepreneurship
- Corporate strategy
Key Concepts
User innovation
Open innovation
Value capture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can manufacturers better integrate user feedback?
- What incentives drive user innovation?
A Different Perspective
Manufacturers may lack deep user insight, limiting relevance.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
