Evaluating research and innovation policy: a systems world needs systems evaluations

Abstract

In the field of R&D policy at least, reality, theory and therefore the needs of evaluation users seem to have moved well ahead of evaluators' conceptual apparatus. The way we think about both innovation and how knowledge is produced has moved towards a systems perspective, while much of the research and innovation evaluation tool-kit has been developed to tackle interventions at the lower levels of projects and programmes. This paper reflects on these changes and what they may mean for the scope and practice of R&D evaluation.

This paper is based on one originally given at the EVA conference of Nordic evaluators at Håholmen, Norway in September 2001. Key parts of the underlying work were funded by VINNOVA and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education, Research and Church Affairs. I am grateful to Jon Hekland, Research Council of Norway, and an anonymous referee for helpful comments. The usual disclaimer, of course, applies.

Author notes

Erik Arnold works for Technopolis and is an Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Research in Innovation Management (CENTRIM), University of Brighton. Contact details: Technopolis Ltd, 3 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton BN1 1EE, UK; tel: [phone]; email: ; website: www.technopolis-group.com1.