Learning Adjustment Speeds and the Cycle of Discovery: A Case Study in Defence-Related State/Industry/Academic Research Interaction

March´s and Nooteboom´s contributions to the analysis of the dynamics of innovation have made an analysis of the learning processes possible on the basis of the mechanisms associated to exploration and exploitation. This contribution develops an approach of the dynamics of innovation between heterogeneous actors committed to stable and recurring relationships. Defence R&D illustrates easily the interplay between actors from the industry, the various parts of the administration and from academic research. They interact in networks where their interests and learning trajectories are closely embedded. This contribution elaborates on the consistence of the agents´ learning curves during the interplay in the innovation network. The initiatives in the network depend on the capacities to foster the exploration of new technological solutions. Broadly stated, the reference to learning determinants favouring explorative or absorptive capacities seems unavoidable in order to understand the various roles in the innovative process.