Final answer:
Market competition provides an incentive for corporations to be the forerunners of innovation in society because they can earn higher profits by discovering new technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main reason for corporations being the forerunners of innovations in society is that market competition provides an incentive for discovering new technology. A firm can earn higher profits by finding ways to produce products more cheaply or create products with characteristics consumers want. With the ability to earn above-normal profits before competitors can catch up, innovative firms are motivated to invest in research and development and seek out new inventions.