Eight challenges for modern innovation policy development
KEF-E-Challenges2015 conference
1. Dr. Edgaras Leichteris,
Knowledge Economy Forum,
Lithuania
November 26, 2015
Putting e-2015 results into
practice: challenges for the
national innovation system
2. What is the presentation
about ?
Based on Lithuanian experience of innovation policy
making in recent 15 years.
3 main questions, 3 lessons learned and 3 main
challenges ahead
Raising global issues in the local context
7. Context
Researchers are best at
understanding different contexts
and using different methods to
adopt foreign good practices to
national environments.
Are we capable to transfer the
knowledge from different countries ?
Innovation policy making 15 years
ago in Lithuania:
“We will implement successful
models from Ireland AND Finland
AND Germany”
8. Execution
Business is exceptionally good at
execution of things.
Huge amount of created knowledge
is useless without business,
because business commercializes
it, puts real life products into the
market
Are we listening to our business
people ?
Innovation policy making 15 years
ago in Lithuania: “Our ministers of
Science/Education and Economy
know better what is good for
business”
9. Policy mix
Politicians are exceptionally good at
screwing everything up. But… They
also can move things forward quickly.
Do we understand our policy mixes ?
Do we coordinate them ?
Innovation policy making 15 years
ago in Lithuania: “Lithuania will be
the hi-technology country with
priority sectors in biotech, laser
technologies, ICT, electronics and
mechatronics” (but.. no money and
coordination action)
10. Lesson No.1
It is very difficult to copy foreign practice
without proper research and understanding of
national context and potential
We need to engage researchers into the process
11. Lesson No. 2
It is very difficult to create effective national
innovation system without business participation
and active feedback
We need to engage business into the process.
They hate the process, but they also make it
more effective
12. Lesson No. 3
It is impossible to have good results without
proper policy mix and constant evaluation of the
progress
We need to promote evidence based policy
making and monitor key performance indicators
13. Have we learned ?
In 2012 Lithuania has started
preparation of smart specialization
strategy with aim to narrow down the
priorities and base them with
evidence.
It was participatory process of 2 years.
Lithuania was among first new EU
countries who had strategy approved
by EU.
The whole idea: to find the “golden
eggs” where to put EU money for
research, development and innovation
15. Priority areas
Energy and sustainable environment
Health technologies and biotechnologies
Agro-innovation and food technologies
New production processes, materials and technologies
Transport, logistics and information and
communication technologies
Inclusive and creative society
Contact edgaras@zef.lt for priorities and more details on particular area
17. A need for “lean” policies
COMMITMENT by policy makers
LIMITED amount of policies is needed
BETTER understanding of those policies and their
interrelationship (policy-mix)
STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE (policy learning, evidence
based, facilitation instead of regulation, evaluation)
RIGHT measures for the right paradigm (for example -
stop using measures attributable to “linear model of
innovation” and calling it “holistic”).
19. Need to admit problems
Legalism culture supported by rule based public
administration – policy makers strongly believe that
national innovation system, clusters, innovation actors
can be created by better legal documents and
establishment of new implementation agencies.
Imitational culture – with roots in soviet system, imitational
culture still is a big obstacle for innovation in public sector
(governance, universities). In private sector it is an issue
only in the area of public support.
21. Need to continue dialog
Overuse of politicized decision-making is a reason why
good recommendations are not implemented.
Lack of trust and cooperation culture is a reason for weak
cooperation between public and private sectors, research
and business institutions, lack of REAL cross-cutting
actions, joint design initiatives.
Support trust and cooperation through all the measures. It
is not enough to have a “measure for cooperation”.
Cooperation shall become the mindset and top priority.
PARTNERSHIPS shall be used not only in design, but also
in implementation of the policies
