Abstract: In the study of technology development, innovation and optimization are often distinguished or even considered opposite. This paper discusses the concept of optimization, and generalizes it to include all human activities that attempt to improve systems. Hence technology innovation can be interpreted as a class of complex multi-actor dynamic optimization processes. Each actor is constantly trying to maximize his or her objectives subject to current individual resource constraints by means of both independent searches and cooperation and competition with other actors. Gradually the constraints are loosened and objectives are improved by the joint efforts, and new technologies, products, processes and services are constantly created. The unification of the two concepts promotes better quantitative description and analysis of innovation.

摘要： 在对技术发展的研究中，创新与优化经常被区别对待甚至对立起来。本文通过对优化概念的辨析，将传统的最优化的概念拓展为人们对系统的所有改进活动;因此技术创新可以表述为一类由多主体共同参与的、复杂的动态优化过程。每个主体都受自己目标的驱使，在各自资源约束下，通过个体和交互的优化行为不断突破资源约束和目标，以创造更好的新的产品、过程和服务。将技术创新与优化相结合有助于对创新进行更为定量和形式化的描述和分析。

关键词: 技术创新 , 优化 , 多主体系统 , technological innovation, optimization, multi-agent system