25 years of knowledge creation processes in pharmaceutical contemporary trends

the pharmaceutical industry is knowledge and research-intensive. due to technological, socio-political and organisational changes there has been a continuous evolution in the knowledge base utilized to achieve and maintain competitive advantages in this global industry. there is a gap in analysing the linkages and effects of those changes on knowledge creation processes associated with pharmaceutical r&d activities. our paper looks to fill this gap. we built on an idiosyncratic research approach - the systematic literature review - and looked to unearth current trends affecting knowledge creation in international/global pharmaceutical r&d. we reviewed scientific papers published between 1980 and 2005. key findings include promising trends in pharmaceutical innovation and human resource management, and their potential implications on current r&d practices within the pharmaceutical industry, from managerial and policy-making perspectives.