Knowledge Production and R&D

Abstract

Who produces scientific and technical knowledge these days? What type of knowledge is being produced, and for what purposes? This chapter studies the role of public policy in knowledge production (especially R&D activities) relevant for the innovation process from a perspective of innovation systems. It identifies four typical policy-related obstacles and barriers related to knowledge production in an innovation system. Next, it elaborates a set of overall criteria for the selection and design of relevant policy instruments addressing those unbalances. Most importantly, the chapter argues that in most countries innovation policy continues to be subsumed under research policy. An holistic and problem-oriented innovation policy requires that innovation policy and research policy are separated from each other in the design phase—but it must be ensured that they support each other when implemented (in the same way as many other policy areas have to be coordinated with each other).