ICIEMBI

Innovation is today largely thought of as the result of scientific discoveries, from public laboratories (such as the CNRST in Morocco), universities, or those of large companies. Numerous examples throughout the course of history validate this representation: the discovery of digitization; the laser from quantum mechanics, governance, nanotechnology, … Such a conception of the relationship between research and innovation is not unrelated. The heterodox economist, defending the thesis that economic evolution is a discontinuous phenomenon, made innovation the engine of economic dynamics and presented research as the starting point of the innovation process.

Innovation is the constant search for improvements to what already exists, in contrast to invention, which aims to create something new. In the field of engineering, physical and biological sciences, IT, innovation is a core business. In the field of economics and management (Schumpeter; Solow; Moore; Everett; Drucker; Robinson and Stern; Von Hippel; De Ron; etc.) innovation results in the design of a new product, service, manufacturing process or organization that can be directly implemented in the productive apparatus and meets the needs of the consumer. It is thus distinguished from invention or discovery by the fact that it can be immediately implemented by companies with the aim of obtaining a competitive advantage. It is creative destruction through time (Schumpeter, 1942).

To assert itself in terms of globalization in the coming decades and build a sustainable economy, Morocco must focus on innovation. In the post-global health crisis situation that we are experiencing, COVID19 is accelerating the innovation machine: an essential element for stimulating research and innovation. Technological innovation, which Morocco demonstrates agility and responsiveness, has made itself felt vigorously in all sectors, both industrial and service. Technological change threatens employment, but it also creates alternatives. Relations at work, between companies, employees, services, mobility, are in full evolution. The only key to progress is to improve innovation.

At this level, a few questions arise:

• How can innovation provide answers to recent economic and management issues arising from unpredictable situations?
• What are the tools and methods for developing innovation research?
• How to encourage today the various actors to collaborate in the process of research in innovation?
• What innovation research approach has been adopted by the different scientific disciplines?
• etc

To answer his questions, we propose several axes that will allow very high level scientific discussions.