Many public efforts have been made to foster the creation and development of organisations aimed at encouraging innovativeness in firms (and especially in small and medium-sized enterprises). In Spain, technology institutes (TIs) have been a key tool in this respect and it is necessary to evaluate whether their performance is meeting the objectives of technology policy postulated by both neoclassical and evolutionary authors. We create a set of specific indicators designed to accomplish this empirical task. Our results suggest that TIs are helping to reduce market failures in the area of technology and to foster relationships among innovation-system actors. Wide regional disparities can be explained by the different roles played by regional governments.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ArrowK, 1962, “Economic welfare and the allocation of resources for innovation”, in The Rate and Direction of Innovation Activity Ed. NelsonR (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ) pp 609625
2.
BargeAModregoA, 2003, “Centros tecnológicos y sistemas regionales de innovación”, paper presented at XXIX Reunión de Estudios Regionales, Santander; copy available from the authors
3.
BennettRRobsonP, 2004, “Support services for SMEs: Does the ‘franchisee’ make a difference to the Business Link offer?”Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy22859880
4.
BrysonJRDanielsPW, 1998, “Business link, strong ties, and the walls of silence: Small and medium-sized enterprise and external business-service expertise”Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy16265280
5.
DasguptaP, 1987, “The economic theory of technology policy: An introduction”, in Economic Policy and Technological Performance Eds DasguptaPStonemanP (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge) pp 723
6.
DosiG, 1988, “The nature of innovative process”, in Technical Change and Economic Theory Eds DosiGFreemanCNelsonRSilverbergGSoeteL (Pinter, London) pp 221238
7.
EdquistC, 2004, “Reflections on the systems of innovation approach”Science and Public Policy31485489
8.
FritschM, 1995, “The market-market failure, and the evaluation of technology-promotion programs”, in Evaluation of Technology Policy Programmes in Germany Eds BeckerGKuhlmannS (Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht) pp 311329
9.
GeroskiP, 1995, Markets for technology, knowledge, innovation and appropriability, in Handbook of the Economics of Innovation and Technological Change Ed. StonemanP (Blackwell, Oxford) pp 90131
10.
GraciaRSeguraI, 2003, “Los centros tecnológicos y su compromiso con la competitividad, una oportunidad para el sistema español de innovación”Economía Industrial3547184
11.
IzushiH, 2002, “The ‘voice’ approach of trade associations: Support for SMEs accessing a research institute”Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy20439454
12.
IzushiH, 2003, “Impact of the length of relationships upon the use of research institutes by SMEs”Research Policy32771788
13.
IzushiH, 2005, “Creation of relational assets through the ‘library of equipment’ model: An industrial modernization approach of Japan's local technology centres”Entrepreneurship and Regional Development17183204
14.
JustmanMTeubalM, 1995, “Technological infrastructure policy (TIP): Creating capabilities and building markets”Research Policy24259281
15.
MetcalfeS, 1995, “The economic foundations of technology policy, equilibrium and evolutionary perspectives”, in Handbooks of the Economics of Innovation and Technological Change Ed. StonemanP (Blackwell, Oxford) pp 409512
16.
MetcalfeS, 1997, “Technology systems and technology policy in an evolutionary framework”, in Technology Globalisation and Economic Performance Eds ArchibugiDMichieJ (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge) pp 268296
17.
ModregoABargeANúñezR, 2005, “Developing indicators to measure technology institutes' performance”Research Evaluation14177184
18.
MoleKBramleyG, 2006, “Making policy choices in nonfinancial business support: An international comparison”Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy24885908
19.
MoweryD, 1995, “The practice of technology policy”, in Handbook of the Economics of Innovation and Technological Change Ed. StonemanP (Blackwell, Oxford) pp 513557
20.
MoweryDRosenbergN, 1989Technology and the Pursuit of Economic Growth (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge)
21.
MytelkaLSmithK, 2001, “Innovation theory and innovation policy, bridging the gap”, paper presented at the Danish Research Unit for Industrial Dynamics Conference, Aalborg, http://www.druid.dk/uploads/tx_picturedb/ds2001-278.pdf
22.
NelsonRRosenbergN, 1993, “Technical innovation and national systems”, in National Innovation Systems: A Comparative Analysis Ed. NelsonR (Oxford University Press, New York) pp 321
23.
NelsonRSoeteL, 1988, “Policy conclusions”, in Technical Change and Economic Theory Eds DosiGFreemanCNelsonRSilverbergGSoeteL (Pinter, London) pp 631635
24.
NelsonRWinterS, 1982An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA)
25.
PriestS, 1999, “Business Link services to small and medium-sized enterprises: Targeting, innovation, and changing”Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy17177193
26.
RichardsonGB, 1960Information and Investment (Oxford University Press, Oxford)
27.
RothwellRDogsonM, 1992, “European technology policy evolution, convergence towards SMEs and regional technology transfer”Technovation12221238
28.
SantamaríaLBarge-GilAModrego-RicoA, 2007, “Which factors underlie public selection of R&D cooperative projects”, in Knowledge Externalities, Innovation Clusters and Regional Development Eds SurinachJMorenoRVayáE (Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, Glos) pp 219237
ShapiraPYoutieJRoessnerJD, 1996, “Current practices in the evaluation of US industrial modernization programs”Research Policy25185214
31.
TurokIRacoM, 2000, “Developing expertise in small and medium-sized enterprises: An evaluation of consultancy support”Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy18409427
32.
VenceX (Ed.), 1998La Política Tecnológica Comunitaria y la Cohesión Regional: Los Retos de los Sistemas de Innovación Periféricos (Civitas, Madrid)
33.
VeugelersR, 1998, “Collaboration in R&D: An assessment of theoretical and empirical findings”The Economist149419443
