Technical Innovation and National Technical Innovation and National SystemSystem

Richard R. NelsonRichard R. Nelson

Nathan RosenbergNathan Rosenberg

Innovation and Technology Innovation and Technology TransferTransfer

Perform by: Duarte Trindade; Pedro Leal

Master Science in Engineering Policy and Technology Management

Friday, April 21, 2023Friday, April 21, 2023

Master Science in Engineering Policy and Technology Management

Innovation and Technology TransferInnovation and Technology Transfer

National Innovation Systems National Innovation Systems ConceptConcept

InnovationInnovation: “the first firm to bring a new product to : “the first firm to bring a new product to market, is frequently not the firm that ultimately captures market, is frequently not the firm that ultimately captures most of the economic rents associated with the innovation” – most of the economic rents associated with the innovation” – Innovation capability is tied by economic performanceInnovation capability is tied by economic performance

SystemSystem: “a set of institutions whose interactions determine : “a set of institutions whose interactions determine the innovative performance of national firms”the innovative performance of national firms”

NationalNational: :

Aircraft Sector

PharmaceuticalSector

Aircraft Sector

PharmaceuticalSector

Master Science in Engineering Policy and Technology Management

Innovation and Technology TransferInnovation and Technology Transfer

The Intertwining of Science and The Intertwining of Science and TechnologyTechnology

Science as Leader and FollowerScience as Leader and Follower

- Electricity – incandescent light, telephone, gramophone- Electricity – incandescent light, telephone, gramophone

- Steam Engine – New field of Thermodynamics (Carnot’s Steam Engine – New field of Thermodynamics (Carnot’s Cycle)Cycle)

The Science and Technology function in a interactive The Science and Technology function in a interactive spiral of positive feedbacksspiral of positive feedbacks

Master Science in Engineering Policy and Technology Management

Innovation and Technology TransferInnovation and Technology Transfer

The Intertwining of Science and The Intertwining of Science and TechnologyTechnology

The limits of Science, learning by trying, and cumulative The limits of Science, learning by trying, and cumulative incremental technology advanceincremental technology advance

- McDonnell Douglas exampleMcDonnell Douglas example

- Most industrial R&D expenditures are on products that have Most industrial R&D expenditures are on products that have long been in existence – such aircraft, automobiles, etc.long been in existence – such aircraft, automobiles, etc.

- The advance of technology goes hand in hand with the The advance of technology goes hand in hand with the advance of scienceadvance of science

Master Science in Engineering Policy and Technology Management

Innovation and Technology TransferInnovation and Technology Transfer

Systems of InnovationSystems of Innovation

UniversitiesState Laboratories

Companies

Universities play an extremely important role Universities play an extremely important role in technical advance, not only as places where in technical advance, not only as places where industrial scientists are trained, but as the industrial scientists are trained, but as the source of research findings and techniques of source of research findings and techniques of considerable relevance to technical advance in considerable relevance to technical advance in industryindustry

Master Science in Engineering Policy and Technology Management

Innovation and Technology TransferInnovation and Technology Transfer

National Systems of Innovation are widely National Systems of Innovation are widely acceptedaccepted

Barriers: different history, language and Barriers: different history, language and cultureculture

Technological communities are transnationalTechnological communities are transnational

Widespread of MNE’sWidespread of MNE’s

GlobalisationGlobalisation

National System and Technology National System and Technology TransnationalTransnational