Research and Innovation in the measurement of well-being

(the swing of the pendulum)

The common path to face the challenges of equitable and sustainable well-being

Giorgio Sirilli

ISSiRFA - CNR

Scientific research (R&D) and innovation have a “loose” relationship with equitable and sustainable well-being

Scientific research is an activity while innovation manifest itself in a new product or process

Technological innovation goes hand in hand with other types of innovation: organisational, marketing, aesthetic

These phenomena shange slowly over time

Some theoretical issues

For 2,500 years innovation was an eminently contested idea. It was pejorative and negative. An innovator was a deviant, a revolutionary, a socialist. For centuries innovation was essentially a political concept

In the nineteen and twentieth century innovation became an object of praise and fashion: from a vice to a virtue. “Innovation is always good”

In the twentieth century the concept became restricted to technological innovation

The relationship between innovation and imitation: economists vs sociologists

Some theoretical issues - Innovation

The report

The report

At the basis of progress

Research and innovation represent an indirect determinant of well-being. They are at the basis of the social and economic progress, and provide a fundamental contribution to a sustainable and durable development. In the identification of suitable indicators, those which best reflect phenomena such as research, innovation and high level professional capabilities have been privileged. R&D and innovation indicators which have been selected refer to different dimensions of knowledge: creation, application and diffusion.

Interaction with other BES domains

Discrimination capacity, stability, durability

Saturation, obsolescence

Frequent spatial and time comparisons

Regional and international data in time sieries

Parsimony, progressiveness, robustness

Few key indicators amenable to be integrated with others; international data sources to be privileged

Choice of indicators

A first list (14 indicators)

Digital inclusion (3 indicators)

Creation and use of knowledge in the economic system (6 indicators)

Results of the use of knowledge (5 indicators)The final list (7 indicators)

Creation of knowledgeApplication and diffusion of knowledge

Our story: from 14 to 7 indicators

Intensity of Internet use

Use of web 2.0 technologies from individuals

Digitalisation of the services provided by local authorities

Digital inclusion

R&D intensity (R&D/Gdp)

Knowledge workers on employment

Researchers on employment

PhDs on employment

Highly qualified human resources working abroad

Scientific publications

Creation and use of knowledge in the economic system

Innovation rate of the national production system

Innovation rate of product/service of the national production system

Propensity to patent

Propensity to patent in social and environmental fields

Production specialisation of knowledge-intensive sectors

Results of the use of knowledge

Creation of knowledgeApplication and diffusion of knowledge

Final result

1. R&D intensity: Percentage of R&D expenditure on GDP2. Propensity to patent: Number of patent applications filed to

the European Patent Office (EPO) per million of inhabitants3. Impact of knowledge workers on employment: Percentage of

persons employed with university education (ISCED 5-6) in scientific-technological occupations (ISCO 2-3) on total persons employed

4. Innovation rate of the production system: Percentage of firms that have introduced technological (product or process), organizational or marketing innovation in a three-year period on total number of firms with at least 10 number of persons employed 

(7 indicators)

5. Innovation rate of product/service of the national production system: Percentage of firms that have introduced innovations of product/service in a three-years period on total number of firms with at least 10 number of persons employed 

6. Production specialization in knowledge-intensive sectors: Percentage of persons employed in high-tech manufacturing sectors and those in knowledge-intensive services on total of persons employed

7. Intensity of Internet use: Percentage of people aged 16-74 years who have used internet at least once a week during the 12 months before the interview on total people aged 16-74 years

(7 indicators cont’d)

8. Highly qualified human resources working abroad: Percentage of graduates and PhD graduates (ISCED 5 -6) working abroad on total labor force with university education.

(Possible candidate)

1. Intensity of internet use 22. Use of Web 2.0 technologies

3. Digitalisation of local services

4. R&D intensity 45. Knowledge workers 26. Researchers on employment

7. PhDs on employment

8. Highly qualified human resources

9. Scientific publications

10. Innovation rate of production system

11. Innovation in products/services 112. Propensity to patent 113. Propensity to patent in social environmental fields

14. Production specialization of knowledge-intensive sectors

Digital inclusion

Creation and use of knowledge

Results of the use of

knowledge

Number of

Tables in

Report (10)

Selected indicator

s (7)

Proposed

indicators

(14)

Areas(3)

1. Intensity of internet use 22. Use of Web 2.0 technologies

3. Digitalisation of local services

4. R&D intensity 45. Knowledge workers 26. Researchers on employment

7. PhDs on employment

8. Highly qualified human resources

9. Scientific publications

10. Innovation rate of production system

11. Innovation in products/services 112. Propensity to patent 113. Propensity to patent in social environmental fields

14. Production specialization of knowledge-intensive sectors

Digital inclusion

Creation and use of knowledge

Results of the use of

knowledge

Number of

Tables in

Report (10)

Selected indicator

s (7)

Proposed

indicators

(14)

Areas(3)

1. Intensity of internet use 22. Use of Web 2.0 technologies

3. Digitalisation of local services

4. R&D intensity 45. Knowledge workers 26. Researchers on employment

7. PhDs on employment

8. Highly qualified human resources

9. Scientific publications

10. Innovation rate of production system

11. Innovation in products/services 112. Propensity to patent 113. Propensity to patent in social environmental fields

14. Production specialization of knowledge-intensive sectors

Digital inclusion

Creation and use of knowledge

Results of the use of

knowledge

Number of

Tables in

Report (10)

Selected indicator

s (7)

Proposed

indicators

(14)

Areas(3)

Some examples (to be added)

R&D

Patents

Human resources

Innovation

Internet

The swing of the pendulum

From society … to economy

(14 indicators) (7 indicators)

Thank you