The changing role of Government research institutes in innovation systems
Keywords:
Public (government) research institutes, Reform, R&D, Innovation, KoreaAbstract
Recent years have seen an intensified discussion in many OECD countries about the role and mission of public research in the innovation system. This discussion takes place in quite specific national contexts, but should benefit from international experience. However, whereas voluminous literatures address the changing governance methods, organizational forms and missions of universities, much less attention has been devoted to developing a common understanding of the challenges faced by non-university public research institutions.
The main goals of this paper is to contribute to clarifying the nature of these challenges, outlines possible policy answers and draws some implications for Korea. In the first section, the paper uses available internationally comparable indicators to review trends in the contribution of government research institutes (GRIs) to R&D and innovation activities. In the second section, the paper identifies the current major changes in the dynamics of innovation that may call for further adjustments in the positioning, organization and steering of public research institutes. Finally, the paper outlines some strategic objectives and orientations for the reform of public research institutes as part of the broader agenda of the Korean innovation strategy.
Downloads
References
2. Edquist, C. and L. Hommen (ed.). Small Country Innovation Systems: Globalisation, Change and Policy in Asia and Europe. Ed-ward Elgar Publishing, 2008.
3. Gulbrandsen, M., and L. Nerdrum. Public Sector Research and Industrial Innovation in Norway: A Historical Perspective. TIK Working Paper on Innovation Studies, No. 20070602, Norway, 2007.
4. Guellec, D. and B. van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie. R&D and Productivity Growth: Panel Data Analysis of 16 OECD Coun-tries. STI Working Paper, No. 2001/3,
OECD, Paris, 2001.
5. Guinet, J., G. Hutschenreiter and M. Keenan. Innovation Strategies for Growth: Insights from OECD Countries. in Chandra, V., D. Erocal, P.C. Padoan and C.A.
Primo Braga (ed.), “Innovation and Growth: Chasing a Moving Frontier.”, OECD and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank, Paris, 2009.
6. Hyytinen, K., T. Loikkanen Konttinen and M. Nieminen. The Role of Public Research Organisations in the Change of the National Innovation System in Finland.
The Advisory Board for Sectoral Research, Finland, 2009.
7. Kim, L. Crisis, National Innovation, and Reform in South Korea. MIT Japan Program Working Paper, No. 2001/01.
8. Laredo, P. Some Notes on Non-University Research Organisations. Presentation to the OECD meeting on Steering and Funding of Research Institutions, Paris, 19
February 2008.
9. Lee, Chul-Won. Challenges and Issues to Upgrade Government-Sponsored Research Institutes in Science and Technology in Korea. paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Korean Society for Innovation Management and Economics, 20-21 July, Jeju Island, 2007.
10. Lee, Kong-Rae. An Essay on Government Policies to Manage Public R&D Institutes. Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, Vol. 15(2007), No. 1, pp. 21-34.
11. Lee, Kong-Rae and Ji-Sun Choi. Strategy to Manage Public R&D Institutes for Building-up Open Regional Innovation systems. Science and Technology Policy
Institute, Seoul (in Korea), 2004.
12. MoST and KISTEP. Report on the Survey of Research and Development in Science and Technology. Ministry of Science and Technology and Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning, Seoul, 2007.
13. OECD. Country Review of Innovation Policy: Korea. OECD, Paris, 2009.
14. OECD. Compendium of Patent Statistics. OECD, Paris, 2008a.
15. OECD. Science, Technology and Industry Outlook. Chapter 5, OECD, Paris, 2008b.
16. OECD. Governance of Public Research: Towards Better Practices. OECD, Paris, 2003.
17. OECD. Frascati Manual. OECD, Paris, 2002.
18. PREST. A Comparative Analysis of Public, Semi-Public and Recently Privatised Research Centres. Final Project Report, PREST, Manchester, 2002.
19. Stokes, D., Pasteur's Quadrant - Basic Science and Technological Innovation. Brookings Institution Press, 1997.
20. Yim, Deok-Soon and Wang-Dong Kim. The Evolutionary Responses of Korean Government Research Institutes in a Changing National Innovation System. Science, Technology and Society, Vol. 10(2005), No. 1, pp. 31-55.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).