I will focus my brief reflections on the emerging debate worldwide on patterns of innovation and the challenges of experiencing knowledge networks, which requires us to look at competence building and the need to better understand the process of user innovation worldwide. Overall, I will refer to the evolving phenomenon of democratizing innovation and will argue that value creation does require a serious commitment in the advanced training of more human resources and in supporting and promoting their research through knowledge networks. *Special presentation "Burning Sound" by Rudolfo Quintas.*