• STI Policy Review
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-56
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• 2014

This paper reviews the most central analytical and methodological issues that arise in developing national STI strategies. First, an outline of the relationship between national innovation systems and the strategic dimension is presented. The paper shows that science, technology and innovation strategy are often used in different forms and that there is no common understanding yet of the actual meaning and coverage of these strategies. The paper develops the terminology from a discussion of different approaches towards company innovation processes analyzing their evolution in different socioeconomic environments and the role and impact of science, technology and innovation policy on company innovation processes. Based on this conceptual understanding the paper defines national science, technology, innovation, and STI strategy and explains the basic terminology. From these definitions, the strategic dimension including the impact on the stakeholders is discussed. It is shown that a major success factor for STI strategy development is the involvement of stakeholders to vary and extend their use of their portfolio of instruments. Moreover it becomes evident that stakeholders follow their own interests which aren't necessarily in the interest of the national STI strategies. The analysis shows advantages and disadvantages as well as potentials and limitations of different approaches to develop STI strategies in their ability to describe the reality of innovation processes and to allow conclusions about the relationship between innovation policy and the innovation processes implemented by companies. It is shown that knowledge of these limitations is an important factor to consider in designing consistent and coherent national STI policy which aims at supporting innovation eventually. Finally the paper concludes that the STI policy mix concept needs a more systemic development approach which is integrated in the national STI strategy development and implementation.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.43-62
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• 2010

Whatever the country, nanotechnology features as a key priority of most national research and innovation policies. This focus on nanotechnology is due to the promises of this general purpose technology, this new technological wave. As 'one size does not fit all', policies supporting its development cannot just adopt the 'best practices' of the preceding wave. We argue that specific on-going dynamics of nanoscience and technology production justifies the existence of dedicated nanotechnology policies. It also questions the portfolio of instruments mobilized and their balance. In this article, we discuss policies developed for the preceding technological waves and, based on the characteristics of nanosciences and technologies, propose five dimensions of policies to be taken into consideration for their governance at the country and cluster levels.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.92-110
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• 2012

An active policy role is suggested for collaboration that will enhance national level Science and Technology (S&T) capabilities. In contrast, some studies see a limited role of policy support for collaborative S&T research at the individual level (including research groups or institutional levels) due to their self-organizing nature. Two views on S&T collaboration look at different levels but existing research largely ignores the context of developing countries. This paper shows how S&T collaborations between Brazil and Korea have developed over the past two decades. The paper indicates the gaps between initiation and the actual establishment of collaborative research at national and individual levels, differences in the focus areas of research, differences in resources and project planning, and the nature of collaborations. Collaborative research activities at the national level were initiated before the individual level but activated later than the individual level; in addition, the focus areas of research were laid down earlier at the national level with individual collaborations focused on different areas. Project types remained different at each level (i.e. top-down and bottom-up) or with a slightly changing mix. This study suggests appropriate policy measures (such as the timely and effective information collection of activities at different levels and proactive coordination) that could reduce the gaps in the timing and alignment of research areas. This paper also alludes to an evolutionary model to develop S&T collaboration among developing countries.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.94-118
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• 2013

Innovation plays a large role in green growth. While it is a widely accepted view that, without innovation, it would be very difficult and costly to address major environmental issues, innovation itself tends to be constrained by limited access to eco-financing and is inherently risky, often requiring a long-term horizon. Although global consensus is more or less established as to the urgency and necessity of accelerating green innovation, the quality and quantity of financing in this area is largely insufficient, with increasing funding gaps in many countries. A new financial mechanism is urgently needed in order to re-orient financial flow and enable innovators to overcome the valleys of death that occur throughout the innovation cycle. A number of different modalities exist in financing the commercialisation of eco-innovation. Existing mechanisms have not been as successful as expected, revealing critical limits to furthering certain types of projects that are essential for economic and environmental progress. Experts' estimations have shown that the funding gap will widen in the coming years as demand for clean energy and green infrastructure rises, and as green technologies and innovation develop faster than the market for it can develop. Against this backdrop, the main purpose of this research is threefold: to identify issues and problems regarding current means of funding for eco-innovation and green projects; to provide insight into securing longterm green financing by looking at European cases; and ultimately to suggest policy implications for designing and implementing eco-specific financial instruments, focusing on governments' roles in sustainable financing for eco-innovation. This study analyses different models of financing mechanisms, a mix of public and private funds, in view of suggesting conditions for the sustainable financing of green projects, especially for large-scale high-risk projects. Based on the findings from the analyses of mechanisms and the shortcomings of the existing funding modalities, this study ultimately suggests policy implications for effectively supporting the commercialisation of eco-innovation.