title: The role of users in innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
abstract: Traditionally, innovation in the pharmaceutical industry is organised according to the linear model. Over the past two decades this model lost its meaning as a result of rising costs, increased competition, new scientific developments and better-informed, more demanding users. The linear model is not well equipped to involve these new actors and to include their feedback. Starting from a systemic approach, the involvement of actors in pharmaceutical innovation processes, more in particular users, is put central. It is discussed and illustrated with three cases why a systemic model may be more effective to cope with present developments and why users should be involved. To wind up, conclusions are drawn regarding the implications of a systemic approach for policymakers, researchers and firms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovation Studies, Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Faculty of Geo-sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands. r.smits@geo.uu.nl
authors.forename: Ruud E H M
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: Wouter P C
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Boon
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation