Promotion of co-operative research: a Spanish experience

The aim of this paper is to assess the success of the Spanish technology policy instrument ‘proyectos concertados’ (co-operative projects which receive public financing) in the stimulation of co-operation between firms and public research centres (PRCs). The paper analyses the factors which explain the different impact of this aid in relation to: a) whether or not the public intervention has contributed to getting a project carried out co-operatively which would otherwise have been carried out by the firm alone; b) whether or not the firms which have carried out proyectos concertados intend to continue to co-operate with the participant PRCs. The information used corresponds to the opinion of the firm which undertakes the proyecto concertado.Publicad

Developing indicators to measure Technology Institutes` performance

Technology institutes (TIs) are non-profit innovation and technology organisations aimed to encourage competitiveness of firms. They are a key organisation in the Spanish National Innovation System because of their size and closeness to the productive sector. Despite this, there is a lack of studies trying to measure their performance and its determinants. This work sheds some light on this. We study the influence of operative, financial, organisational, relational and general variables on three measures of results: selffinance, impact and added value. Our conclusions show the relevance of this approach and are confirmed by grouping TIs according to their service supply characteristics.Publicad

Public selection and financing of R&D cooperative projects : credit versus subsidy funding.

In this article we develop an analytical model of the selection process for R&D cooperative projects, to study the factors that motivate public project selection and corresponding funding, using two different financial instruments: subsidies and credits. For this purpose, we propose a three stage empirical strategy to analyse the differential individual effects of several factors on the decisions taken by the public agency. This analysis is based on project level data from cooperative R&D project calls under the Spanish PROFIT initiative, for the period 20002003. The main results show that the public agency uses the two financial instruments to address different objectives. First, some projects close to the market are well supported through credits, while basic research projects receive only selective support in the form of subsidies. Second, there is significant diversity in the selection and funding of technological areas. Third, regarding the explicit goal of fostering cooperation, the public agency selectively favours partnerships with universities and technology institutes through the award of subsidies. However, there seems to be less incentive for large consortia. Fourth, there are significant regional differences among financed projects and, also, our data show sharp yearly fluctuationsPublic Funding; R&D Cooperation; Project selection; Credit; Subsidy;

Complementarities between universities and technology institutes : new empirical lessons and perspectives.

This paper investigates the different roles played by universities and technology institutes (TIs) as innovation partners of firms. Comparing the characteristics of Spanish firms collaborating with these agents allows us to better define complementarities among the target groups of these organizations. Our findings show that those firms collaborating with universities are bigger, have higher internal capabilities and are less dependent on their external relationships while firms collaborating with TIs are smaller, have weaker internal capabilities but are more open to their environment and thus more reliant on external sources. We point to the implications of these findings for regional development. Universities have a role as partners of more technologically advanced firms. TIs, on the other hand, partner those firms, which though also quite advanced, require more external help in their innovation processes. These results should help policy-makers in the definition of more complex regional strategies and the provision of tools aimed at different goals. Managers of universities, TIs and client firms should find these results of help in developing more positive collaborations with one anotherUniversities; Technology insitutes; Spanish firms; Collaboration;

Promotion of co-operative research: a Spanish experience.

The aim of this paper is to assess the success of the Spanish technology policy instrument ‘proyectos concertados’ (co-operative projects which receive public financing) in the stimulation of co-operation between firms and public research centres (PRCs). The paper analyses the factors which explain the different impact of this aid in relation to: a) whether or not the public intervention has contributed to getting a project carried out co-operatively which would otherwise have been carried out by the firm alone; b) whether or not the firms which have carried out proyectos concertados intend to continue to co-operate with the participant PRCs. The information used corresponds to the opinion of the firm which undertakes the proyecto concertado.

Developing indicators to measure Technology Institutes` performance.

Technology institutes (TIs) are non-profit innovation and technology organisations aimed to encourage competitiveness of firms. They are a key organisation in the Spanish National Innovation System because of their size and closeness to the productive sector. Despite this, there is a lack of studies trying to measure their performance and its determinants. This work sheds some light on this. We study the influence of operative, financial, organisational, relational and general variables on three measures of results: selffinance, impact and added value. Our conclusions show the relevance of this approach and are confirmed by grouping TIs according to their service supply characteristics.

Ciencia y Economía

The relationship between science and economy is a trendy issue, both in the scientific field as in the entrepreneurial and political arena. The main purpose of this work is to show in a synthetic way the state of the art of this matter. To this aim, we put forward the analysis of science developed by economists, focusing in the controversies between the neoclassical and the evolutionary perspective. We also review the empirical evidence offered by different works and sum up the main arguments of the present debate about how science should be organized. Main conclusions show that science and economy are closely related and that their links are complex and dynamic, so that flexible approaches are required in the management and evaluation of the relationship.Publicad

Ciencia y Economía.

The relationship between science and economy is a trendy issue, both in the scientific field as in the entrepreneurial and political arena. The main purpose of this work is to show in a synthetic way the state of the art of this matter. To this aim, we put forward the analysis of science developed by economists, focusing in the controversies between the neoclassical and the evolutionary perspective. We also review the empirical evidence offered by different works and sum up the main arguments of the present debate about how science should be organized. Main conclusions show that science and economy are closely related and that their links are complex and dynamic, so that flexible approaches are required in the management and evaluation of the relationship.Science; Economy; innovation; impact; evolutionary;

Innovación y Formación: Bases para un desarrollo sostenido.

competitividad; politíca científica y tecnológica; centro tecnológico; recursos humanos;