Skip to main content
Log in

What indicators do (or do not) tell us about Regional Innovation Systems

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper analyses some of the methodologies and R&D and innovation indicators used to measure Regional Innovative Capacity in Spain for the period 1996–2000. The results suggest that the approaches examined are not sufficiently rigorous; they vary depending on the methodology and indicators employed.

Therefore, we would suggest that the right balance between quantitative and qualitative approaches could produce a better evaluation of innovation system performance which would be more useful to policy makers and other stakeholders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Archibugi, D., Coco, A. (2004), A new Indicator of Technological Capabilities for Developed and Developing Countries (ARCO), Research Paper Series, Vol. 15, No44, CEIS Tor Vergata, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balzat, M., Hanusch, H. (2003), Recent trends in the research on national innovation systems, Beitrag, 254: 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buesa, M., Baumert, T., Heijs, J., Martínez, M. (2002), Los factores determinantes de la Innovación: un análisis econométrico sobre las regiones Españolas, Revista Economía Industrial, 347: 67–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, B., Jacobsson, S., Holmén, M., Rickne, A. (2002), Innovation systems: analytical and methodological issues, Research Policy, 31: 233–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Den Hertog, P., Roelandt, T. J. A., Boekholt, P., Van der Gaag, H. (1995), Assesing the Distribution Power of National Innovation Systems Pilot Study: The Netherlands, TNO, Apeldoorn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Díez, M. A. (2001), The evaluation of regional innovation and cluster policies: Towards a participatory approach, European Planning Studies, 9(7): 907–923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Díez, M. A. (2002), Evaluating new regional policies. Reviewing the theory and practice, Evaluation, 8(3): 285–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doloreux, D. (2002), What we should know about regional systems of innovation, Technology in Society, 24: 243–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doloreux, D., Parto, S. (2005), Regional innovation systems: Current discourse and unresolved issues, Technology in Society, 27: 133–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edquist, C. (Ed.) (1997), Systems of Innovation: Technologies, Institutions and Organizations, Pinter, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etzkowitz, H., Leydesdorff, L. (2000), The dynamics of innovation: from national systems and “Mode 2” to a Triple Helix of university-industry-government relations, Research Policy, 29(2): 109–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Barcelona Council, 15th–16th March 2002, http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/ec/71025.pdf

  • European Innovation Scoreboard, EIS 2001, 2002 and 2003, http://www.cordis.lu/innovation-smes/scoreboard/home.html

  • European Lisbon Council, 23rd–24th March 2000, http://www.europarl.eu.int/summits/lis1_en.htm

  • Faber, J., Hesen, A. B. (2004), Innovation capabilities of European nations. Cross-national analyses of patents and sales of product innovations, Research Policy, 33: 193–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández De Lucio, I., Castro, E. (1995), La nueva política de articulación del Sistema de Innovación en España, VI Seminario Latinoamericano de Gestión Tecnológica, ALTEC, Concepción (Chile).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández de Lucio, I., Rojo, J., Castro, E. (2003), Enfoque de Políticas Regionales de Innovación en la Unión Europea, Academia Europea de Ciencias y Artes, Madrid.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frascati Manual (1994, 2002), Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys of Research and Experimental Development: The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities Series, OCDE, Paris.

  • Furman, J. L., Porter, M. E., Stern, S. (2002), The determinants of national innovative capacity, Research Policy, 31: 899–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Georghiou, L. (1998), Issues in the evaluation of innovation and technology policy, Evaluation, 4(1): 37–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Georghiou, L., Smith, K., Toivanen, O., Yla-Anttila, P. (2003), Evaluation of the Finnish Innovation Support System, Edita Publishing Ltd, Ministry and Trade and Industry, Helsinki.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grupp, H., Mogee, M. E. (2004), Indicators for national science and technology policy: How robust are composite indicators? Research Policy, 33: 1373–1384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huggins, R., Sootarsing, K., Bussell, S., Day, J., Izushi, H., Liu, J., Jones, M. (2004), European Competitiveness Index 2004: Measuring the Performance and Capacity of Europe’s Nations and Regions, Robert Huggins Associates.

  • Inzelt, A. (2004), The evolution of university-industry-government relationships during transition, Research Policy, 33: 975–995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L. (2001), Indicators of innovation in a knowledge-based economy, Cybermetrics, 5(1), Paper 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L., Scharnhorst, A. (2003), Measuring the Knowledge Base. A program of Innovation Studies, Report written for the “Förderinitiative Science Policy Studies” of the German Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundvall, B. A. (Ed.) (1992), National Systems of Innovation. Towards a Theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning, Pinter Publishers, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luukkonen, T. (2000), Additionality of EU Framework Programmes, Research Policy, 29: 711–724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, K., Nauwelaers, C. (2003), Regional Innovation Strategies. The Challenge for Less-Favoured Regions, Routledge, West Sussex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nauwelaers, C., Reid, A. (1995) Methodologies for the evaluation of regional innovation potential, Scientometrics, 34(3): 497–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NISTEP (2001), Science and Technology Indicators: 2000. A Systematic analysis of Science and Technology activities in Japan, NISTEP Report No66, National Institute of Science and Technology Policy, Japan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olazarán, M., Gómez Uranga, M. (Eds) (2001), Sistemas Regionales de Innovación, Servicio Editorial de la Universidad del Pais Vasco, Bilbao.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oslo Manual (1992, 2005), OECD Proposed Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Technological Innovation Data, OECD, Paris.

  • Riba Vilanova, M., Leydesdorff, L. (2001), Why Catalonia cannot be considered as a regional innovation system, Scientometrics, 50(2): 215–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saisana, M., Tarantola, S., Saltelli, A. (2003), Exploratory Research Report: The Integration of Thematic Composite Indicators, European Commission EUR 20682 EN Report, Intitute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen, Technological and Economic Risk Management Unit, Isra, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J., Trubek, D. M. (2002), Mind the gap: Law and new approaches to governance in the European Union, European Law Journal, 8(1): 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner-Döbler, W. (2005), The system of research and development indicators: Entry points for information agents, Scientometrics, 62(1): 145–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yglesias, E. (2003), Porter vs. Porter: Modeling the technological competitiveness of nations, Scientometrics, 57(2): 281–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M., Jiménez-Sáez, F., Castro-Martínez, E. et al. What indicators do (or do not) tell us about Regional Innovation Systems. Scientometrics 70, 85–106 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-0106-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-0106-8

Keywords

Navigation