Abstract
Diversified but complimentary approaches analysing complex systems of innovation promise a more general framework of relevant theory that can explain similarities and differences of national innovation systems (NIS) among countries. We characterize this approach as a breakthrough for overcoming the restrictions of the prevailing Linear Approach and System Approach. The combination of these two approaches facilitates cross-country and cross-time comparisons of different systems of innovations. The new approach also contributes to understanding fine-tuning links between the national innovation system and the corporate innovation system.