Embedding Research in Society: Development Assistance Options for Supporting Agricultural Innovation in a Global Knowledge Economy
Andy Hall
#2008-011
The emergence of a globalised knowledge economy, and the contemporary
views of innovation capacity that this trend enables and informs,
provides a new context in which development assistance to agricultural
research and development needs to be considered. The main argument in
this paper, which focuses on The Netherlands, is that development
assistance should use this emerging scenario to identify niches where
inputs can add value to the R&D investments of others, particularly in
activities that help wire up innovation systems, linking R&D to other
activities and actors in society. The paper outlines four agricultural
innovation priorities and guiding principles for development assistance
that could help strengthen national and global innovation capacity.
These trends also raise many tensions and dilemmas for the development
research community in Northern countries. A key message of this paper is
that these tensions could be better handled if a long-term vision for
development assistance to ST&I - which recognised the contingencies of
the global knowledge economy and the importance of participation in the
resolution of international issues that affect all countries - were in
place. The paper concludes by suggesting that national development
assistance policies on ST&I cannot be thought of separately from a
country's general ST&I policy as participation in the resolution of
international issues is a key element of a country's comparative
advantage. This requires investments in expertise in the North and not
just financial assistance to the South.
Key words: global knowledge economy; development assistance;
agricultural research; agricultural innovation; science technology and
innovation policy; development research community; international
development
UNU-MERIT Working Papers
ISSN 1871-9872