presented by Professor Ron Johnston JRC-IPTS & Australian Centre for Innovation

1. ‘STI Policy : The Client Perspective’ presented by Professor Ron Johnston JRC-IPTS & Australian Centre for Innovation SPRU 40th Anniversary Conference September, 2006

2. The Future of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy: Linking Research and Practice The Challenge: “What is the evidence that we, the research community, have actually helped to improve the quality and effectiveness of policy and management”

3. Outline • The characteristics of STI policy and the influence of STI research have been essentially determined by the prevailing policy/political perspective. • Lessons from STI policy and mechanisms that have (and haven’t) worked. • Towards a more strategic positioning of STI research

4. Four Periods of STI Research • The ‘Humboldtian’ Era (cf Ben Martin) • The Keynesian Era • The neo-liberal era • An Emerging New Era?

5. The Keynesian Era – 1945-75 Vannevar Bush model – autonomous, well-funded research; scientists in charge STI Research Focus • Size of GERD • Peer review • Coordination and concentration • Priority-setting • Contribution of research to the economy

6. The Neo-Liberal Era – 1975-20?? ‘New public management’ model – principal-agent theory, moral hazard STI Research Focus • ‘Delegation’ • Evaluation • Technological Innovation • Commercialisation • New ventures/venture capital • Industrial clusters

7. An Emerging New Era – 20??- “Good Governance” model – strategic, outcome-focused, ‘joined up’, inclusive, horizontal management of interdependencies, adaptive policy-making STI Research Focus? • Productivity of R&D and knowledge • Capturing IP • Systems theory-based approaches • Priority-setting • Generation of broad, flexible knowledge platforms

8. Lessons from STI policy and mechanisms - I ‘Wentworth Group’ – Australia Key Determinants of STI Policy Influence - clear, simple language – no qualifiers - focus on solutions, not problems - work within existing political framework - work across existing structures and institutions

9. Lessons from STI policy and mechanisms - IIENSO Forecasting Centers – Pacific & Africa Key Determinants of STI Policy Influence - Convening - Translating - Collaborating - Mediating (Cash, Borck and Pratt, ‘Countering the Loading-Dock Approach to Science and Decision-Making’)

10. Towards a more Strategic Positioning of STI Research • More explicit and committed engagement with policy-makers • Mechanisms to more purposively shape agenda-setting and the language of debate on key public issues • Developing a well-managed ‘STI Collaboration’ database on STI policy interventions and their effectiveness