1074 A New Perspective Network Innovation Cristina S. Rodrigues University of Minho, Portugal Edite M.G.P. Fernandes University of Minho, Portugal F. Vitorino Martins University of Porto, Portugal IntroductIon The global competition, with the decreasing of econom- ic barriers and the strong technological and knowledge development, is changing the context of doing business and, therefore is increasing demands to firms to remain competitive. The only possible answer for a sustained competitiveness is through differentiation and innova- tion, accepting the context of change. Therefore, being an innovator is a firm's central role in order to help the firm's survival and profitability. In this article, we discuss the concepts of innova- InnoVatIon and InnoVatIVeness In recent years, there has been a good deal of attention devoted to innovation as a critical issue in this global- ization era. The intensified competition faced firms with the need of an entrepreneurial behaviour in the form of innovation. New products, new processes, and new forms of organization are necessary to respond to a more technical skilled competition. Being the "best to do" is no longer enough and it demands a strategy that positions firms' products as different, unique, and value added. As a consequence, the innovation issue