Evaluation of
Innovation Systems
Rigas Arvanitis
ESTIME Coordinating team
IRD/Savoirs et Développement
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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

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Basic concepts
Innovation is linked to, but not limited to
R&D
 Innovation depends upon technological
learning
 Innovation depends upon an institutional
environment
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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
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Interactive link-chain model of research
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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
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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
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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
 labour market
 communications measures
 foreign investment and trade policy
 regional
small firms
policy
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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Tools for evaluating the innovation
system
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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
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Example : Mexico innovation
system
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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.
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Example : Mexico innovation
system – topics of the evaluation
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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
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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
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Experience from other countries

High learning economies (South East Asia,
China) have been good at :
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
 Giving
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