It is important to note several features concerning the interaction between discovery, invention and innovation.
a. Invention is promoted by discoveries in the natural sciences and more recently the biological sciences; whereas, innovation is promoted by discoveries in the industrial engineering, the social sciences and the business disciplines.
b. The interaction between discovery and invention is a two way street. Frequently the development of the full economic value of an invention requires massive discoveries. For example, the modern airplane required the scientific development of aerodynamics. The economic development of superconductivity will require the physicists to develop a theory of superconductivity.
c. Similarly the interaction between discovery and innovation and between invention and innovation is two way.