Decision making processes based on innovation indicators: which implications for technology assessment?

Based on the report for ���Project IV��� unit of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment. This thesis research has the supervision of Ant��nio Moniz (FCT-UNL and ITAS-KIT) and Manuel Laranja (ISEG-UTL). Other members of the thesis committee are Stefan Kuhlmann (Twente University), Leonhard Hennen (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-ITAS), Tiago Santos Pereira (Universidade de Coimbra/CES) and Cristina Sousa (FCT-UNL).

Decisions of technology innovation: the role of indicators

This work presents research conducted to understand the role of indicators in decisions of technology innovation. A gap was detected in the literature of innovation and technology assessment about the use and influence of indicators in this type of decision. It was important to address this gap because indicators are often frequent elements of innovation and technology assessment studies. The research was designed to determine the extent of the use and influence of indicators in decisions of technology innovation, to characterize the role of indicators in these decisions, and to understand how indicators are used in these decisions. The latter involved the test of four possible explanatory factors: the type and phase of decision, and the context and process of construction of evidence. Furthermore, it focused on three Portuguese innovation groups: public researchers, business R&D&I leaders and policymakers. The research used a combination of methods to collect quantitative and qualitative information, such as surveys, case studies and social network analysis. This research concluded that the use of indicators is different from their influence in decisions of technology innovation. In fact, there is a high use of indicators in these decisions, but lower and differentiated differences in their influence in each innovation group. This suggests that political-behavioural methods are also involved in the decisions to different degrees. The main social influences in the decisions came mostly from hierarchies, knowledge-based contacts and users. Furthermore, the research established that indicators played mostly symbolic roles in decisions of policymakers and business R&D&I leaders, although their role with researchers was more differentiated. Indicators were also described as helpful instruments to conduct a reasonable interpretation of data and to balance options in innovation and technology assessments studies, in particular when contextualised, described in detail and with discussion upon the options made. Results suggest that there are four main explanatory factors for the role of indicators in these decisions: First, the type of decision appears to be a factor to consider when explaining the role of indicators. In fact, each type of decision had different influences on the way indicators are used, and each type of decision used different types of indicators. Results for policy-making were particularly different from decisions of acquisition and development of products/technology. Second, the phase of the decision can help to understand the role indicators play in these decisions. Results distinguished between two phases detected in all decisions ��� before and after the decision ��� as well as two other phases that can be used to complement the decision process and where indicators can be involved. Third, the context of decision is an important factor to consider when explaining the way indicators are taken into consideration in policy decisions. In fact, the role of indicators can be influenced by the particular context of the decision maker, in which all types of evidence can be selected or downplayed. More importantly, the use of persuasive analytical evidence appears to be related with the dispute existent in the policy context. Fourth and last, the process of construction of evidence is a factor to consider when explaining the way indicators are involved in these decisions. In fact, indicators and other evidence were brought to the decision processes according to their availability and capacity to support the different arguments and interests of the actors and stakeholders. In one case, an indicator lost much persuasion strength with the controversies that it went through during the decision process. Therefore, it can be argued that the use of indicators is high but not very influential; their role is mostly symbolic to policymakers and business decisions, but varies among researchers. The role of indicators in these decisions depends on the type and phase of the decision and the context and process of construction of evidence. The latter two are related to the particular context of each decision maker, the existence of elements of dispute and controversies that influence the way indicators are introduced in the decision-making process.

Human capital and innovation: evidence from panel cointegration tests

Panel cointegration techniques applied to pooled data for 27 economies for the period 1960-2000 indicate that: i) government spending in education and innovation indicators are cointegrated; ii) education hierarchy is relevant when explaining innovation; and iii) the relation between education and innovation can be obtained after an accommodation of a level structural break.

The knowledge conversion SECI process as innovation indicator analysis factor

It highlights the innovation importance in the current society and presents innovation indicators applied in 125 countries. We made an analysis in the 80 variables distributed through seven GII pillars, trying to identify the direct, indirect or null incidences of the knowledge conversion way described by the SECI Process. The researched revealed the fact that knowledge management, in this case specifically the knowledge conversion SECI Process, is present in the variables that, according to the GII, make clear innovative activity in countries.

Innovation dynamics in rural areas: contributions to capture and measure innovation, valuing territorial specificities

Doutoramento em Gest��o Interdisciplinar da Paisagem - Instituto Superior de Agronomia / Universidade dos A��ores / Universidade de ��vora

Challenges and perspectives of academic evaluation

Academic evaluation has been an essential component of modern science since its inception, as science has moved away from personalized patronage toward its contemporary role as an essential enterprise of contemporary, democratic societies. In recent years, Brazil has experienced sustained growth in its scientific output, which is nowadays fully compatible with its status as a high middle-income country striving to become a fully developed, more equitable country in the years to come. Growth usually takes place amidst challenges and dilemmas and, in Brazil as elsewhere, academic evaluation is not exempt from such difficulties. In a large, profoundly heterogeneous country with a national evaluation system and nationwide on-line platforms disseminating information on the most disparate fields of knowledge, the main challenges refer to how to pay attention to detail without losing sight of comprehensiveness and how to handle social and regional diversity while preserving academic excellence as the fundamental benchmark.

Panorama de propriedade intelectual, transfer��ncia de tecnologia e inova����o da qu��mica brasileira e a compara����o com os pa��ses do BRIC

Based on Science, Technology & Innovation (ST&I) indicators, Brazil is a competitive and interesting country from the point of view of technological foreign investment. However, it is still incipient with regard to national investments, production of technological knowledge, inbound mobility of scientists and technology transfer to the productive sector. Among many other factors, global patent production is considered as an important indicator of innovation. Likewise, the balance between revenue and expenses obtained through royalties and licensing fees of technologies is also critical in mapping the diffusion and absorption of knowledge. The understanding of intellectual property and its strategic management brings a significant advantage to the economic and technological development of nations, especially in the field of chemistry, which greatly contributes to biotechnology, new materials and microelectronics - three fundamental areas for innovation in developed countries. Therefore, this article aims to map out competencies in chemistry in Brazil and evaluate science, technology and innovation indicators in the country, comparing this dynamic to the one of other BRIC members (Russia, India and China). Chemistry is the fourth biggest field of interest in Brazil based on the number of researchers registered at the governmental platform for researchers, Plataforma Lattes/CNPq, and is preceded by education, medicine and agronomy. The majority of research groups are registered in the area of materials, followed by macromolecules and polymers, pharmaceutical products and basic materials chemistry. These groups represent approximately 77% of research groups analyzed, therefore, indicating a tendency in the country. The analyses of patents in different sub-areas of chemistry reveal that non-residents file most deposits in the country, a probable reflection of the low internal intellectual property culture. Pharmaceutics and Fine Chemistry are prominent areas in the country, in line with the global trend. Among BRIC countries, China has the highest number of patents and of requests for protection in international offices. On the other hand, Brazil has the lowest number of chemical patents published at USPTO, EPO and JPO. An analysis of the transfer of technology data indicates an increase in this activity in various sub-areas of chemistry in the country. Despite the great efforts made by the country to consolidate its national innovation system, more needs to be done to put Brazil in a competitive position. In a globalized world dominated by large players, Brazil needs a lot of progress on ownership and generation of chemistry technologies to strengthen its national sovereignty. It is essential to strengthen chemical research at all levels, from elementary school to university, as an inexhaustible source of knowledge and technology that, when properly protected, may generate real public achievement and social return.

Faturamento de novos produtos na ind��stria do estado de S��o Paulo: an��lise dos fatores de influ��ncia

Diversos estudos t��m sido realizados no intuito de analisar os impactos da inova����o tecnol��gica no desempenho comercial das empresas. Com isso, este estudo visa analisar os fatores de influ��ncia sobre o percentual do faturamento com a venda de novos produtos na ind��stria do Estado de S��o Paulo. Trata-se de uma pesquisa com caracter��sticas descritivas e explicativas, cuja abordagem �� quantitativa, utilizando dados secund��rios provindos da Pesquisa de Atividade Econ��mica Paulista (PAEP), realizada pela Funda����o SEADE. Os resultados mostram que os fatores de influ��ncia sobre o faturamento provindo de novos produtos s��o: a origem do capital controlador; a empresa pertencer a um grupo empresarial; o total de pessoal em pesquisa e desenvolvimento; o pessoal alocado diretamente na produ����o; as fontes de informa����o para atividades inovativas; e o apoio governamental para a inova����o tecnol��gica.

Indicators used to measure the innovation process: defects and possible remedies

Some diverse indicators used to measure the innovation process are considered, They include those with art aggregate, and often national, focus, and rely on data from scientific publications, patents and R&D expenditures, etc. Others have a firm-level perspective, relying primarily on surveys or case studies. Also included are indicators derived from specialized databases, or consensual agreements reached through foresight exercises. There is an obvious need for greater integration of the various approaches to capture move effectively the richness of available data and better reflect the reality of innovation. The focus for such integration could be in the area of technology strategy, which integrates the diverse scientific, technological, and innovation activities of firms within their operating environments; improved capacity to measure it has implications for policy-makers, managers and researchers.

How composite indicators of innovation can influence technology policy decision?

Based on the report for Project III of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment and prepared for the Winter School that took place at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica Campus on the 6th and 7th of December 2010.

The use of indicators and evidence in governance and policy development of science, technology and innovation

This paper was first presented at the 2012 ��� EU SPRI Conference ���Towards Transformative Governance? - Responses to mission-oriented innovation policy paradigms���, Fraunhofer ISI, June 2012, Karlsruhe

Countries three Wise Men: Sustainability, Innovation, and Competitiveness

Purpose: The studies on links between sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness have been mainly focused at organizational and business level. The purpose of this research is to investigate if there is a correlation between these three variables at country level. Using international well recognized rankings of countries sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness, correlation analysis was performed allowing for the conclusion that there are indeed high correlations (and possible relationships) between the three variables at country level. Design/methodology/approach: Sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness literature were reviewed identifying a lack of studies examining these three variables at country level. Three major well recognized indexes were used to support the quantitative research: The World Economic Forum (2013) Sustainability-adjusted global competitiveness index, the Global Innovation Index (2014) issued by Cornell University, INSEAD, and WIPO and the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (2014). After confirming the distributions normality, Pearson correlation analysis was made with results showing high linear correlations between the three indexes. Findings: The results of the correlation analysis using Pearson correlation coefficient (all correlation coefficients are greater than 0.73) give a strong support to the conclusion that there is indeed a high correlation (and a possible relationship) between social sustainability, innovation and competitiveness at country level. Research limitations/implications: Further research is advisable to better understand the factors that contribute to the presented results and to establish a global paradigm linking these three main constructs (social sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness). Some authors consider that these measurements are not fully supported (e.g. due to different countries standards), however, it is assumed these differing underlying methodological approaches, by being used in conjunction, can be considered as a set of reliable and useful performance indicators. Practical implications: The results highlight the simultaneous relationship between social sustainability, innovation and competitiveness superior performance and the need to take that these considerations into business and operating models. Social implications: This research suggests that sustainability and innovation policies, strategies and practices are relevant for countries competitiveness and should be promoted particularly in countries ranked low on sustainability and innovation global scoring indexes. Originality/value: This is one of the few studies addressing the relationships between sustainability, innovation and competitiveness at country level.

Innovation in the portuguese footwear industry

Proceedings da AUTEX 2015, Bucareste, Rom��nia.

Innovation in ���low-tech��� industries: Portuguese footwear industry

ICEIM ��� International Conference in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Roma, 17-18 de setembro de 2015.

Ranking Regional Innovation Policies: DEA-based Benchmarking in an European Setting

Seudullinen innovaatio on monimutkainen ilmi��, joka usein sijaitsee paikallisten toimijoiden keskin��isen vuorovaikutuksen kent��ss��. T��ten sit�� on perinteisesti pidetty vaikeasti mitattavana ilmi��n��. Ty��ss�� sovellettiin Data Envelopment Analysis menetelm����, joka on osoittautunut aiemmin menestyksekk����ksi tapauksissa, joissa mitattavien sy��tteiden ja tuotteiden v��liset suhteet eiv��t ole olleet ilmeisi��. Ty��ss�� luotiin konseptuaalinen malli seudullisen innovaation sy��tteist�� ja tuotteista, jonka perusteella valittiin 12 tilastollisen muuttujan mittaristo. K��ytt��en Eurostat:ia datal��hteen��, l��hdedata kahdeksaan muuttujsta saatiin seudullisella tasolla, sek�� mittaristoa t��ydennettiin yhdell�� kansallisella muuttujalla. Arviointi suoritettiin lopulta 45 eurooppalaiselle seudulle. Tutkimuksen painopiste oli arvioida DEA-menetelm��n soveltuvuutta innovaatioj��rjestelm��n mittaamiseen, sill�� menetelm���� ei ole aiemmin sovellettu vastaavassa tapauksessa. Ensimm��iset tulokset osoittivat ylip����t����n liiallisen korkeita tehokkuuslukuja. Korjaustoimenpiteit�� erottelutarkkuuden parantamiseksi esiteltiin ja sovellettiin, jonka j��lkeen saatiin realistisempia tuloksia ja ranking-lista arvioitavista seuduista. DEA-menetelm��n todettiin olevan tehokas ja kiinnostava ty��kalu arviointik��yt��nt��jen ja innovaatiopolitiikan kehitt��miseen, sik��li kun datan saatavuusongelmat saadaan ratkaistua sek�� itse mallia tarkennettua.