Innovation, Definition of

Innovation has become a very important lobbying principle in the process of corporate globalization. As appearing, for example, in bilateral trade agreements or industry submissions to government, it is used to drive policy changes that support and even reward ostensibly new technological developments in addition to any royalties flowing from the patent system. Recognition of innovation as a principle has an uncertain place in established normative systems such as bioethics and international human rights. One of the main controversies with regard to innovation is whether claims made about it in relation to a product should be determined by market forces (as assisted, for example, by lobbying, advertising, and monopolistic business strategies) or by scientific assessment of evidence about objectively demonstrated significance or value to society.