Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Papers in Innovation Studies,
Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research

No 2013/4: The Choice of Innovation Policy Instruments

Susana Borrás () and Charles Edquist ()
Additional contact information
Susana Borrás: Department of Business and Politics, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark CIRCLE, Lund University, Sweden, Postal: CIRCLE, Lund University, PO Box 117, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
Charles Edquist: CIRCLE, Lund University, Postal: CIRCLE, Lund University, PO Box 117, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to discuss the different types of instruments of innovation policy, to examine how governments and public agencies in different countries and different times have used these instruments differently, to explore the political nature of instrument choice and design (and associated issues), and to elaborate a set of criteria for the selection and design of the instruments in relation to the formulation of innovation policy. The article argues that innovation policy instruments must be designed and combined into mixes in ways that address the problems of the innovation system. These mixes are often called “policy mix”. The problem-oriented nature of the design of instrument mixes is what makes innovation policy instruments ‘systemic’

Keywords: Policy mix; innovation system; innovation policy instruments; governance; regulation; public policy

JEL-codes: O30; O31; O32; O33; O38

33 pages, February 15, 2013

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201304_Borras_Edquist.pdf PDF-file 

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