1. ‘STI Policy : The Client Perspective’
presented by
Professor Ron Johnston
JRC-IPTS &
Australian Centre for Innovation
SPRU 40th Anniversary Conference
September, 2006

2. The Future of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy: Linking Research and Practice
The Challenge:
“What is the evidence that we, the research community, have actually helped to improve the quality and effectiveness of policy and management”

3. Outline
The characteristics of STI policy and the influence of STI research have been essentially determined by the prevailing policy/political perspective.
Lessons from STI policy and mechanisms that have (and haven’t) worked.
Towards a more strategic positioning of STI research

4. Four Periods of STI Research
The ‘Humboldtian’ Era (cf Ben Martin)
The Keynesian Era
The neo-liberal era
An Emerging New Era?

5. The Keynesian Era –
Vannevar Bush model – autonomous, well-funded research; scientists in charge
STI Research Focus
Size of GERD
Peer review
Coordination and concentration
Priority-setting
Contribution of research to the economy

6. The Neo-Liberal Era – ??
‘New public management’ model – principal-agent theory, moral hazard
STI Research Focus
‘Delegation’
Evaluation
Technological Innovation
Commercialisation
New ventures/venture capital
Industrial clusters

7. An Emerging New Era – 20??-
“Good Governance” model – strategic, outcome-focused, ‘joined up’, inclusive, horizontal management of interdependencies, adaptive policy-making
STI Research Focus?
Productivity of R&D and knowledge
Capturing IP
Systems theory-based approaches
Priority-setting
Generation of broad, flexible knowledge platforms

8. Lessons from STI policy and mechanisms - I ‘Wentworth Group’ – Australia
Key Determinants of STI Policy Influence
- clear, simple language – no qualifiers
- focus on solutions, not problems
- work within existing political framework
- work across existing structures and institutions

9. Lessons from STI policy and mechanisms - II ENSO Forecasting Centers – Pacific & Africa
Key Determinants of STI Policy Influence
- Convening
- Translating
- Collaborating
- Mediating
(Cash, Borck and Pratt, ‘Countering the Loading-Dock Approach to Science and Decision-Making’)

10. Towards a more Strategic Positioning of STI Research
More explicit and committed engagement with policy-makers
Mechanisms to more purposively shape agenda-setting and the language of debate on key public issues
Developing a well-managed ‘STI Collaboration’ database on STI policy interventions and their effectiveness