Title: A case of comparative analysis on methods and outcomes of national foresight processes

Authors: Monica Cariola

Addresses: Ceris-CNR, Economic Research Institute on Firms and Growth, National Research Council of Italy, Via Real Collegio, 30, Moncalieri, Turin, 10024, Italy

Abstract: Most of the governments that fund R&D activities to foster the national innovation capability use specific methods/processes for supporting the different phases which precede and follow these activities: foresight, prioritisation, impact assessment and knowledge transfer. In the past decades, foresight has become one of the most popular and used amongst them. The latest theories conceptualise foresight as one element in a continuous policy-learning process where impact on policy has become more subtle and complex. From this point of view foresight should be considered as a systemic innovation policy instrument fostering innovation capability. This paper tries to find out if there are some evidences of these theories, discussing a case of comparative analysis on methods and outcomes of National Foresight Processes with reference to the sector of metrology that, being transversal and very knowledge-based, could be strongly effective in improving the performance of many other sectors and, in a broader view, the national innovation capability.

Keywords: foresight; innovation policies; national innovation capability; R&D; research and development; prioritisation; knowledge transfer; impact assessment; metrology; innovation policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2007.016464

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2007 Vol.3 No.4, pp.351 - 368

Published online: 30 Dec 2007 *

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