Drying is one of the oldest unit operations and yet it is one of the least understood and most complicated. Several drying technologies have reached maturity viz. further R&D resources are unlikely to yield appreciable returns on investment. Innovative approaches are needed to meet the challenges of global competitiveness, efficient energy utilization, environmental impact and product quality. New products and new processes often demand new drying techniques. Some of the innovations are a result of “technology push” as opposed to “market-pull”. In view of the large time scale of drying technologies, most innovations are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. This paper attempts to characterize the process of innovation, identify features common to new drying technologies and survey some innovative dryers.