Innovation at the National Level

Abstract

This article introduces the reader to the evolution of the concept of innovation systems at the national level. National Innovation systems (NIS) are variously defined as a system for generating and diffusing new technologies or, or as a tool to identify key linkages in the system of technical institutions and other organizations to create and manage innovation. Government support and area of technological focus are two components that contribute to the effectiveness of a national innovation system but they are not a sufficient explanation for high performing systems. Examples of other factors contributing to a nation's innovation are its level of education, its ability to commercialize innovation, and its overall social and cultural climate. NIS policy studies aim to describe and compare the most important institutions, organizations, activities, and interactions of public and private actors that take part in or influence the innovation process of a country. NIS thinking has led to a structurally different view of how government can stimulate the innovation performance of a country. It shifts focus away from labor and wages and draws policy makers' attention to “getting the institutional environment right.”

Evaluation of government‐supported provincial innovation competitiveness—Evidence from China

“…With the quickening globalization and fiercer competition in the global market and in order to achieve sustainable development, more and more nations have realized the importance of improving national innovation capacity and regarded knowledge-based economic strategies as an important component of national development strategy (Govindaraju, Ghapar, & Pandiyan, 2009;OECD, 2013). Based on the a national innovation system (NIS) proposed by Freeman (1987), Peters, Narayanan, O'Connor, and Tribbitt (2015) extend the model to identify the generation diffusion of innovation at the national level and believe that government support, education, social context, and culture are important factor components contributing to the effectiveness of a national innovation system. Archibugi and Coco (2004) drew on the CIP index of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the TAI index of the United Nations Development Program, and proposed new indicators to distinguish the innovation capabilities between developed and developing countries.…”