This paper provides an overview of the theoretical perspectives and key debates regarding the role and contribution of the vocational education and training system (VET) and vocationally-Trained workforce in technical innovation. It considers contributions to these debates from innovation studies, varieties of capitalism research, neoclassical human capital theory and the work organization discipline. Historically, the primary role assigned to the VET system in innovation has been in relation to technology diffusion, particularly the generation, adaptation and diffusion of technical and organizational change and incremental innovation. Differences between national VET systems have been linked to large disparities in the level of skills qualifications, which is in turn a major factor in determining differences in patterns of innovation and key aspects of economic performance between advanced economies. The article finished by considering barriers to maximizing the contribution of VET to innovation linked to future social and economic challenges. © Federación Española de Sociología.
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