Abstract

The article is about new views on the theory of “long waves” and especially from the point of view of technological progress, importance of which is stressed. It developed a new conception of waves of technological innovations in a modern society (from 1600 AD). The last 5th wave (based on a progress in informatics and telecommunications) is just coming to an end. Today economic crisis (2008) must be seen also as the crisis of the end of the cycle of innovations. It could be overcome by a new technological revolution (post-informational technological revolution) which could start about 2015.

Keywords: Crisis, innovation, invention, Kondratieffs cycles, long waves, post-informational technological revolution, technological progress, waves of technological innovation.