Innovation's Quality depends on Recession?

We know for certain that innovations play a key role in strengthening the economy.

To boost it out of recession, people start turning towards innovation. HOWEVER, does the quality of said inventions and products fall along side the economy ? It might grow in numbers but not in any other way. How are people able to acess resources when they can hardly support themselves? And doesn't recession also affect the standard of education? If they lack that as well, then how can innovation grow?