Title: Local innovation support in Scotland: policy lessons from Glasgow

Authors: A.H. McPherson, Sean M. McDonald

Addresses: Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, New Lanarkshire House, Strathclyde Business Park, ML4 3AD, UK. ' Department of International Studies, Morison Building, Room 200, Bentley College, Waltham, MA 02452-4705, USA

Abstract: The paper critically examines the policy and practice of Scottish innovation support with particular reference to the city of Glasgow during the period between the late 1990s and 2003. The paper highlights differences in approach towards innovation policy themes at different spatial scales including the EC, national, regional, and local levels. The character of the Glasgow innovation model is argued to reflect a narrow |techno-academic| paradigm. In delineating the characteristics of an inclusive innovation model as an approach emphasised at EC and regional levels, the paper draws lessons for policy and practice at the Scottish and local levels, highlighting three related areas: the development of local demand capacity through SME engagement; broadening of the sectoral focus of innovation measures incorporating the engagement of financial services, creative industries, and other sectors; and widening the involvement of supplier and intermediary actors including further education institutions. These lessons require a shift in the dominant approach towards innovation with implications for the scope of innovation activity and balance of activity amongst different actors within Scotland|s innovation system.

Keywords: national innovation systems; regional innovation systems; international innovation systems; institutions; Scotland; innovation support; innovation policy; SMEs; local demand capacity; sectoral focus.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2005.007595

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2005 Vol.2 No.1, pp.35 - 56

Published online: 19 Aug 2005 *

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