Abstract
The paper discusses the issue of innovation in the perspective of relevant sociological interpretative frameworks: the concepts of national innovation system (Nelson), learning firm (Lundvall) and the social system of production (Hollingsworth) and their impact on assessment of innovation performance of innovating firms and national economies. With respect to the challenges of the EU Lisboan strategy the interfaces between competitiveness, environmental sustainability and social cohesiveness are discussed.
The selected methodological databases (EIS 2005, EXIS) are used to identify the techno-economic and socio-cultural resources and impacts of innovation. The cognitive robustness of suggested approach is tested with help of data about innovation system of the CR.