1. Innovation and Research Systems
Ken Ducatel & Elissaveta Gourova, JRC/ IPTS
Knowledge Economy Forum: Using Knowledge for Development in EU Accession Countries
Paris, February 2002

2. Knowledge Infrastructures - current status?
Key questions
Knowledge Infrastructures - current status?
Reasonable targets for development?
What pathways are open to meet targets?

3. Knowledge capacities : High potential
An optimistic message is often painted about the high innovation performance of PACs
- tech creation (patents etc
- take-up of new technologies (internet penetration
- penetration of traditional tech (telephone, tv
- human skills (qualifications
This UN Human Development Rerport data indicate that some PACs are ‘Potential Leaders’in a Tech Achiev. Index (see Fin .74, Uk .61, Fr .52 Sp .48 Cz/H/Slo/Slo ~ .45, ahead of Greece/Por and then B/Po/Cy/Ro ~4.0).
I will express some doubts about some of these indicators in the next section, but there are clearly grounds for optimism.
The main problems seem to be that the innovation system is so fragmented.

4. Knowledge Infrastructures - current status?
Three phase model
Dissolution and fragmentation of S&T systems
Restructuring, consolidation & re-emergence
New innovation system - integration and networking
Industrial research & technology transfer
...
University research
New intermediaries

5. Knowledge capacities : decline (& recovery?)
Decline in applied research
From ‘brain loss’ to ‘brain gain’
There is much concern about brain drain. Probably though the major problem is brain waste - I.e. the underemployment of highly qualified people and the lack of attraction of young people into sci careers.
During the early years of transition there was a large outflow of people from the S&T sector - mainly the applied research/ branch research institutions relating to the industrial decline/ restructuring
Priority now is to create more stability and attractiveness especially for younger people entering science as a career.
The question here is how to use mobility constructively… The recent communication on mobility suggests a number of reasons why mobility is posisitve… (see list)
Perhaps structured mobility programmes (I.e. tactical brain drain) could help by creating a pool of talent in waiting as - people usually want to return home

6. Knowledge Infrastructures - current status?
Three phase model
Dissolution and fragmentation of S&T systems
Restructuring, consolidation & re-emergence
New innovation system - integration and networking
Industrial research & technology transfer
alliances, integration and reverse engineering
University research
building on educational demands
New intermediaries
incubators & innovation support

7. Reasonable targets for development?
Fundamental research
Mapping and exploiting strengths ….
Industrial research
...
Problem-focused research

8. S&T Strategies 1: excellence or relevance?

9. Reasonable targets for development?
Fundamental research
Mapping and exploiting strengths
Providing sufficient targeted funding
Industrial research
...
Problem-focused research

10. S&T Strategies 2: Are resources sufficient?
EU Average
Source: Eurostat, National sources for Turkey

11. Reasonable targets for development?
Fundamental research
Mapping and exploiting strengths
Providing sufficient targeted funding
Industrial research
Renewal and responding to privatisation of public enterprises
Problem-focused research
Prioritising for specific societal needs and economic specialisation

12. What pathways are open to meet targets?
Open and transparent priority setting
Effective & open management of S&T system
Achieve good practice on specification and implementation technical standards
balance supply & demand-side interests setting agendas
New structures and actors in the knowledge infrastructure ….

13. Foresight = open processes?
Processes are often opaque but we see some
Consensus building approaches (e.g. foresight) starting to emerge in countries such as H, Po, Cz, Ma, Cy

14. What pathways are open to meet targets?
Open and transparent priority setting
Effective & open management of S&T system
Achieve good practice on specification and implementation technical standards
balance supply & demand-side interests setting agendas
New structures and actors in the knowledge infrastructure
Overcoming fragmentation of decision making on S&T
Networking of multidisciplinary teams (inc. internationally)
Centres of excellence in applied research with industrial linkages
Build on strong university-based research growth

15. Emergent models University-based labs & technology centres:
support for applied/ industrial research.
Centres of excellence outside of universities:
with close links to industrialists.
International and regional networking:
to stay abreast of research developments &
to acquire expertise.