The book explores the connections between innovations or innovation processes and the development of modern economies. It examines the factors and their interactions that are responsible for the performance of innovation systems in regions or entire nations. This includes the contributions of the education system, public and private research and development activities, as well as companies with their innovation strategies, including governmental frameworks such as intellectual property protection. The implementation and diffusion of innovations are analyzed, among other things, through the lens of business startups. Related innovation networks continue to evolve under the pressures and high dynamics of globalization. Additional chapters address the political strategies of nations and regions that aim to assert themselves in the global innovation competition.