This paper presents a systematic review of the evidence on the relationship between networking and innovation. It explores how networking activities influence firms' innovative capacity, and how these activities can lead to improved innovation performance and productivity. The review finds that networking provides several key benefits, including risk sharing, access to new markets and technologies, speeding up product development, pooling complementary skills, safeguarding property rights, and facilitating access to external knowledge. The evidence also shows that firms that do not cooperate or exchange knowledge informally limit their knowledge base and reduce their ability to engage in exchange relationships. At an institutional level, national systems of innovation play an important role in the diffusion of innovations by shaping networking activities. The paper provides evidence that network relationships with suppliers, customers, and intermediaries such as professional and trade associations are important factors affecting innovation performance and productivity. Where networks fail, it is due to interfirm conflict, displacement, lack of scale, external disruption, and lack of infrastructure. The review identifies several gaps in the literature that need to be filled. For instance, there is a need for further exploration of the relationship between networking and different forms of innovation, such as process and organisational innovation. Similarly, we need better understanding of network dynamics and network configurations, as well as the role of third parties such as professional and trade associations. Our study highlights the need for inter-disciplinary research in these areas. The review also highlights the importance of partner diversity in innovation. Firms that engage with a diverse range of partners benefit from the integration of different knowledge bases, behaviours, and habits of thought. The integration of suppliers in the innovation process has been highlighted as one of the factors leading to frame-breaking innovation. The effective integration of suppliers in new product development processes can have a significant impact on cost, quality, technology, speed, and responsiveness of buying companies. The role of customers in innovation is also discussed. Customers should play an active role in the innovation process and are capable of identifying novel ideas for development. The role of third parties, such as professional associations, trade associations, and publicly funded bodies aimed at promoting innovation, is also discussed. These third parties have a dual role in promoting innovation, acting as neutral knowledge brokers and as important conduits for the development of informal relationships. The role of science partners is also discussed. Science partners play an important role as independent network brokers and intermediaries within business networks. The role of venture finance partners is also discussed, highlighting the importance of appropriate venture finance and loan finance for innovation. The evidence shows that co-investment between venture capital firms in entrepreneurial businesses is both beneficial for venture capitalists and provides better quality and larger funds for entrepreneurial businesses. The paper concludes that networking is a key factor in innovation and that the relationship between networking and innovation is complex and multifaceted. The review highlights the need for further research in this area and the importance of inter-disciplinary research in understanding the relationship between networking and innovation.This paper presents a systematic review of the evidence on the relationship between networking and innovation. It explores how networking activities influence firms' innovative capacity, and how these activities can lead to improved innovation performance and productivity. The review finds that networking provides several key benefits, including risk sharing, access to new markets and technologies, speeding up product development, pooling complementary skills, safeguarding property rights, and facilitating access to external knowledge. The evidence also shows that firms that do not cooperate or exchange knowledge informally limit their knowledge base and reduce their ability to engage in exchange relationships. At an institutional level, national systems of innovation play an important role in the diffusion of innovations by shaping networking activities. The paper provides evidence that network relationships with suppliers, customers, and intermediaries such as professional and trade associations are important factors affecting innovation performance and productivity. Where networks fail, it is due to interfirm conflict, displacement, lack of scale, external disruption, and lack of infrastructure. The review identifies several gaps in the literature that need to be filled. For instance, there is a need for further exploration of the relationship between networking and different forms of innovation, such as process and organisational innovation. Similarly, we need better understanding of network dynamics and network configurations, as well as the role of third parties such as professional and trade associations. Our study highlights the need for inter-disciplinary research in these areas. The review also highlights the importance of partner diversity in innovation. Firms that engage with a diverse range of partners benefit from the integration of different knowledge bases, behaviours, and habits of thought. The integration of suppliers in the innovation process has been highlighted as one of the factors leading to frame-breaking innovation. The effective integration of suppliers in new product development processes can have a significant impact on cost, quality, technology, speed, and responsiveness of buying companies. The role of customers in innovation is also discussed. Customers should play an active role in the innovation process and are capable of identifying novel ideas for development. The role of third parties, such as professional associations, trade associations, and publicly funded bodies aimed at promoting innovation, is also discussed. These third parties have a dual role in promoting innovation, acting as neutral knowledge brokers and as important conduits for the development of informal relationships. The role of science partners is also discussed. Science partners play an important role as independent network brokers and intermediaries within business networks. The role of venture finance partners is also discussed, highlighting the importance of appropriate venture finance and loan finance for innovation. The evidence shows that co-investment between venture capital firms in entrepreneurial businesses is both beneficial for venture capitalists and provides better quality and larger funds for entrepreneurial businesses. The paper concludes that networking is a key factor in innovation and that the relationship between networking and innovation is complex and multifaceted. The review highlights the need for further research in this area and the importance of inter-disciplinary research in understanding the relationship between networking and innovation.