Human development and policies for innovation

In this Chapter I outline the main ideas and suggestions that emerge from applying the Capability Approach. I then seek to apply the visions that guide human development projects to policies in the field of innovation. In order to approach the emerging problems and implications, these ideas are discussed as responses to six over-arching questions: ‘Why?’, ‘Which capabilities?’, ‘Who?’, ‘How?’, ‘What?’, and ‘Which implementation?’ I then discuss some possible applications of a few policy instruments for innovation, such as ‘mission oriented’ programmes, foresight exercises and technological assessments. Finally, a brief discussion on the innovation processes in developing countries is presented.