While studies dealing with issues related to innovations in higher education proliferate, there has been little consensus on key concepts and central issues for research. To respond to the challenges, this paper calls for developing a new research field--studies on innovations in higher education, by integrating two disciplines, namely innovation studies and higher education research. As an initial effort, the paper constructs an analytical framework for understanding the innovation process, particularly in the context of higher education. In addition to its academic significance, the framework may have potential to guide practitioners to implement innovations in wiser ways.