Main problem: in conditions of increasing competition, when characterizing commercial structures, a fundamental role is given to innovations, which occupy important place in economic life of the organization. Accordingly, the study of their essence and content is of particular importance for growth of competitiveness of organizations, which determines the relevance of study. Purpose: to investigate essence of innovation and innovation process in retrospect and in modern conditions as main prerequisite for improving competitiveness of commercial organizations. Achieving this purpose required solving following research tasks: to reveal the content of theoretical approaches to the study of the main aspects of interaction between business and government in modern science; the differences between the concepts of “novelty”, “know-how”, “innovation” are investigated; the relationship of the triad of concepts “novelty”, “know-how”, “innovation” is determined; concept of “innovation” has been studied in retrospect; concept of “innovation” in market economy is studied (foreign experience); approaches to definition of concept of "innovation" in international innovation theory and practice are defined; content of innovation process is presented, as well as author’s alternative scheme of innovation process; authorэs view on interpretation of concepts of “innovation”, “innovation process” in modern conditions is presented. Methods: theoretical and methodological basis was concepts, hypotheses and theories presented in works of domestic and foreign researchers. The methodology is based on systematic approach, within which methods of comparative, factorial, subject-object, structural-functional, statistical analysis and extrapolation have been applied. Results and their significance: article examines concepts of “innovation”, “innovation process” in retrospect and in modern aspect. Approaches to concept of "innovation" are systematized, an alternative scheme of innovation process is proposed. It is proved that in modern conditions innovation should be considered as process system reflecting all aspects of innovation process, main purpose of which is to achieve efficiency