Drawing Users into Innovation Policy: A Study of the Danish Policy on User-Driven Innovation

Abstract

This paper is a study of how Denmark came to be the first country to recognize and formally support users as part of their innovation policy. Starting in 2007, the policy provided for grants to research institutions, universities and companies for product development. Drawing on a wealth of published information and 39 interviews of senior policymakers we document the development and implementation of this world-first policy initiative. We find that this policy is a good beginning for supporting innovative users but that it is important for policymakers to consider how users will be involved depending upon the driving innovator - producer or user. If users are the innovators, the government needs to support innovation in a different way from traditional public policies in this area.