A NEW APPROACH TOWARDS  THE MEASUREMENT OF INNOVATION  AND TECHNOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

George M. Korres; George Polychronopoulos

Authors

George M. Korres University of Newcastle
George Polychronopoulos Technological Educational Institute

Keywords:

Statistical Measures, Innovation Activities, Techniques and Methods, Research and Development, Growth.

Abstract

Innovation activities contribute essentially to competitiveness and growth. Technological infrastructure and innovation capabilities affect not only the regional growth, but also the whole periphery and economy, as well. This paper attempts to analyze the background of innovation statistics and in particular to examine the measurement and also the statistical estimation of innovation activities. The question addressed in this paper, is whether the recent slow-down in productivity can be explained by the slow-down of innovation activities. It attempts to model and measure technical change, in order to measure the corresponding effects of economic growth. Then, the characteristics of innovation process are broadly examined: nature, sources along with the main affecting factors. The paper concludes by summarizing the major findings of the discussion and pointing to some directions for future research. On this context, it also aims to emphasize and to review the appropriate techniques, the most common methods and the particular problems.

References

Breschi, S. and Malerba, F. (1997), «Sectoral Innovation SystemsTechnological Regimes, Schumpeterian Dynamics and Spatial Boundaries», in Edquist, C. (ed.) (1997) Systems of Innovation: Technologies, Institutions and Organizations. Pinter Publishers/Cassel Academic.

Busom, I. (2000), An empirical evaluation of the effects of R&D subsidies. Economic Innovation and New Technology, 9, pp. 111–148.

Czarnitzki, D., Fier, A. (2001), Do R&D Subsidies Matter? – Evidence from the German Service Sector, ZEW Discussion Paper No. 01–19. ZEW, Mannheim.

Danciu Aniela, Goschin Zizi (2010), «Innovation Assesment in the European Union: National and Regional Approaches», Working Paper, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.

European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/index_en.htm

----------- (2006b), European Innovation Scoreboard 2006. Comparative Analysis of Innovation Performance, Brussels, Belgium.

----------- (2009a), Enterprise and Industry European innovation scoreboard 2008 Comparative analysis of innovation performance, Brussels.

----------- (2010), European innovation scoreboard 2009 Comparative analysis of innovation performance, Brussels.

NESTA (2009), The Innovation Index Measuring the UK’s investment in innovation and its effects, Index report: November 2009, United Kingdom.

OECD, STAN and National Accounts databases.

----------- (1976), Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys of Research and Experimental Development: «Frascati Manual», The Measurement of Scientific and Technical Activities Series, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

----------- (1979), Trends in Industrial R&D in Selected OECD Member Countries 1967–1975, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

----------- (1981a), Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys of Research and Experimental Development: «Frascati Manual 1980», The Measurement of Scientific and Technical Activities Series, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris.

----------- (1981b), The measurement of scientific and technical activities: Frascati Manual 1980, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

----------- (1989b), R&D Statistics and Output Measurement in the Higher Education Sector: «Frascati Manual» Supplement, The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities Series, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

----------- (1992f), Oslo Manual: Proposed Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Technological Innovation Data, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

----------- (1994a), Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys of Research and Experimental Development, «Frascati Manual 1993», The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities Series, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris.

----------- (1997b), The Oslo Manual: Proposed Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Technological Innovation Data, Paris OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, France.

----------- (1997c), Technology and Industry: Scoreboard of Indicators, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris: OECD.

----------- (1997d), Manual for Better Training Statistics – Conceptual, Measurement and Survey Issues. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

----------- (2002a), Frascati Manual. Proposed standards practice for surveys on research and experimental development. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris.

----------- (2002j), Frascati Manual, Sixth edition, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

INNOMETRICS (2009), Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS) 2009, by Hugo Hollanders – MERIT1, Stefano Tarantola – JRC2, Alexander Loschky –JRC2, December 2009. This report is accompanied by the «Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2009 Methodology report».

Korres G. (2011) Handbook of Innovation Economics, Nova Publishers, New York, USA.

Porter, M., and S. Stern (2003), «Ranking National Innovative Capacity: Findings from the National Innovative Capacity Index». In Global Competitiveness Report, World Economic Forum, Geneva.

Sajeva, M., & Gatelli, D. (2005), Methodology Report on European Innovation Scoreboard 2005: European Commission, Enterprise Directorate-General.

Schumpeter J. A. (1934): The theory of economic development, Cambridge, MA, Harvard Economic Studies.

Stoneman, P. and Toivanen, O. (1997), The diffusion of multiple technologies: An empirical study, Economics of Innovation and New Technology 5, 1–17.

UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), (2005), World Investment Report: Transnational Corporations and the Industrialization of R&D. New York and Geneva: UNCTAD United Nations, New York and Geneva, United Nations.