To the formation of the conceptual framework of the theory of innovation

The article investigations of the conceptual framework of the theory of innovation. Innovations in the system of related concepts are considered. It is defined that to transform «novation» to the form of innovation, it is necessary to fulfil a number of conditions: to invest, to conduct marketing research, to prepare the manufacture for the output of new products, to carry out the manufacturing, to sell products. The signs of innovation are highlighted, they are the novelty, commercialization, distribution (diffusion), unpredictability, riskiness, investment needs, which showed the complexity and multidimensionality of the innovation’s phenomenon. It is determined that, despite the prevalence, the concept of«innovation» still doesn’t have the unambiguous definition. To harmonizing terminology and form a holistic view of innovation, the systematization of approaches to their interpretation has been carried out. It is identified the limitations and unilateralism of the perception of innovation from the position of the first two approaches and the advantages of the third one. The differences between innovation and innovation activity are substantiated and a specific definition of the concept of «activation of the firm's innovation activity» is given. A scientific-methodical approach to the typology of innovations is developed. The approach is based on the matrix principle, depending on the completeness of coverage of the stages of innovation activity of the enterprise and the types of innovations according to different classification criteria: the effect of the impact on the market, the development of industries and the conditions of competition between enterprises; on the strategy of enterprise development; by origin; by source of competitive advantage.