New Approaches to Analyse Determinants of National Innovation Systems in Emerging and Developing Countries
Gerd Meier zu Köcker and Lysann Müller, Institute for Innovation and Technology, iit Berlin; VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik, Berlin
Policy makers, especially in emerging and developing countries usually look for structured descriptions of a National Innovation System (NIS) and clear recommendations for improving their own NIS’s performance. They usually do not ask for scientific models of the functionality of an NIS or sophisticated, statistical based performance indicators. It happens quite often that analyses of the conditions for innovation confuse policy makers as they do not provide clear guidelines for improvement. Indeed, such reports lack precise information or recommendations on how to optimise the effects of innovation capacities, especially when public investments are limited. As far as third party donors are concerned, it is crucial to identify those determinants of an NIS, which can be improved with the tools and financial means available for those donors.
The presented ANIS approach fits into the new tradition of indicator-based studies relying on quantitative data generated by the evaluation of expert interviews. Such an approach differs from traditional benchmarking studies on innovation performance. The Global Competitiveness Report and the European Scoreboard or the Nordic Innovation Monitor are excellent approaches for measuring or benchmarking innovation-related performance indicators. However, since the statistical base is often insufficient, the latter is rather intended for well-matured economies than for developing or emerging countries’ issues. The Global Competitiveness Report uses a mix of statistical data and expert interviews but since it focuses on the competitiveness of nations, the issue of innovation is not sufficiently targeted.
Date: 03 June 2010
Time: 15:00 - 16:00 CEST