Connecting worlds: The role of innovation brokers in the context of innovation networks

High level of diversity among members of innovation networks may hinder the process of innovation. To overcome difficulties, an intermediary - named innovation broker - becomes of central importance. Few studies have investigated when this intermediary is, both, an innovative agent and carrier of innovations at networks. This study deals with this imbalance by relying on an ongoing exploratory study of a Pan-European innovation network. The results, discussing the origins, functions and processes that innovation brokers engage in, show that they can improve the performance of innovation networks by helping members to overcome social and cognitive boundaries.