Introduction to the field of creative enterprise

The problems facing the 21st century world are creating opportunities that challenge the traditional manner in which enterprises create value. The number of newer and traditional industries undergoing radical change is unprecedented. These industries are being affected by the interconnectivity of the global problems as well as the emerging technology (such as nanotechnology) based innovations being developed to meet their challenge. Novel forms of business, creative enterprises, are being generated to meet this opportunity. Yet academic and practitioner understanding of how to best assist these enterprises is limited. If one compares the plethora of scientific knowledge being generated by any one of the emerging technologies to that of those authors providing managerial acumen in any form there is a great disparity. Here, the authors help define the field of creative enterprise based on emerging technologies like nanotechnology and provide a basis for further study. The authors provide some initial knowledge of the new roles required of technology entrepreneurs, researchers and other innovation professionals. Further they provide or extend management tools and new business models required by these creative enterprises. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.