The Ecological System of Innovation: A New Architectural Framework for a
Functional Evidence-Based Platform for Science and Innovation Policy
Abstract
Models on innovation, for the most part, do not include a comprehensive
and end-to-end view. Most innovation policy attention seems to be
focused on the capacity to innovate and on input factors such as R&D
investment, scientific institutions, human resources and capital. Such
inputs frequently serve as proxies for innovativeness and are correlated
with intermediate outputs such as patent counts and outcomes such as GDP
per capita. While this kind of analysis is generally indicative of
innovative behaviour, it is less useful in terms of discriminating
causality and what drives successful strategy or public policy
interventions. This situation has led to the developing of new
frameworks for the innovation system led by National Science and
Technology Policy Centres across the globe. These new models of
innovation are variously referred to as the National Innovation
Ecosystem. There is, however, a fundamental question that needs to be
answered: what elements should an innovation policy include, and how
should such policies be implemented? This paper attempts to answer this
question.