Evaluation of Innovation Systems

1. Evaluation of Innovation Systems Rigas Arvanitis ESTIME Coordinating team IRD/Savoirs et Développement

2. Innovation is a complex economic and social process • Some countries are rapidly growing on the basis of more innovation and competitivity • Innovations depend on a large array of enhancing factors • An evaluation of the innovation system needs to decribe strengths and weaknesses IRD/Savoirs et Développement

3. IRD/Savoirs et Développement

4. Basic concepts • Innovation is linked to, but not limited to R&D • Innovation depends upon technological learning • Innovation depends upon an institutional environment IRD/Savoirs et Développement

5. R&D and learning • Learning is rooted in entreprises and located in strategic activities of firms • Technology transfers depend more on who absorbs technology • Small and medium sized companies have different needs than large firms • R&D is an interactive process IRD/Savoirs et Développement

6. Interactive link-chain model of research IRD/Savoirs et Développement

7. An evaluation of the innovation system should • Describe the institutionnal set-up • Central regulatory institutions • Specialized agencies • Corporate and private institutions that promote technology and innovations, and entrepreneurial activities • Universities, institutes, and technical centres that promote technologies • Technological initiatives and networks IRD/Savoirs et Développement

8. An evaluation of the innovation system should –1 • Measure resources • Public resources (science, technology and innovations) • Privately managed resources • Sources of funding and venture capital IRD/Savoirs et Développement

9. An evaluation of the innovation system should – 2 • Describe framework rules and policy • education and training • Patenting and intellectual property rights • competition • regulatory reform toward businesses • financial and fiscal measures toward small firms • labour market • communications measures • foreign investment and trade policy • regional policy IRD/Savoirs et Développement

10. An evaluation of the innovation system should – 3 • Describe R&D performance • At public research centres • Universities • Technical centres supporting industry, agriculture, health, services • R&D in private and public companies IRD/Savoirs et Développement

11. An evaluation of the innovation system should – 4 • Describe techno-economic networks • Technical collaborations • International cooperation • Technopoles, business incubators, specialized industrial zones and free-trade zones • Bridging institutions • Valorization of uses of research and experiences of successful innovations IRD/Savoirs et Développement

12. An evaluation of the innovation system should – 5 • Describe infrastructure and technical services • Metrology and instrumentation • Design centres, technical centres • Facilities for R&D and technical developments • Basic infrastructures (energy, communications, and so on) IRD/Savoirs et Développement

13. An evaluation of the innovation system should – 6 • Describe human capital and training • Universities • Technical and engineering training • Vocational education • Computer sciences • On the job training • Education as a system IRD/Savoirs et Développement

14. An evaluation of the innovation system should – finally • Give a view of the performance of the system • Economic specialization patterns • Competitiveness indicators • Firms and entrepreneurial activities IRD/Savoirs et Développement

15. Tools for evaluating the innovation system • Socio-economic description of institutions promoting innovation • Innovation surveys • Surveys of uses of research and valorisation • Reprocessing of innovation surveys, firm typologies • Economic and management evaluations of R&D performance and innovation • Sectoral descriptions of technological developments IRD/Savoirs et Développement

16. Example : Mexico innovation system • Coordinated by the S&T council • One coordinator • Nine sociological and economic teams • Large discussion seminars with scholars and stakeholders (main actors of the system) • See: Cimoli, M. Ed. (2000). Developing innovation systems: Mexico in a Global Context. London, Pinter. IRD/Savoirs et Développement

17. Example : Mexico innovation system – topics of the evaluation • Macro-economic setting and production system • Specialization and production patterns • Institutions of the Mexican NIS • Human resources and competencies • University-industry linkages • Sectoral patterns of industrial growth and technological developement: • Chemical sector, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Automobiles, SMEs and Large companies IRD/Savoirs et Développement

18. Depth and size of an evaluation • No evaluation of the innovation system can be exhaustive • Strategic areas and policy have to be defined • Structural aspects are usually covered by previous good socio-economic research • Focus on : • Promotion activities • Specific sectors IRD/Savoirs et Développement

19. Experience from other countries • High learning economies (South East Asia, China) have been good at : • Giving entreprises funds and structural support –not relying only on free trade • Suporting actively industrial activities by the State –engineering, training, technical support, infrastructure • Supporting entrepreneurial activities of small firms • Supporting specific companies IRD/Savoirs et Développement