Title:
A Taxonomy of National Innovation Systems: Lessons From an Exercise Comprising a Large Sample of Both Developed, Emerging and Developing Economies
A Taxonomy of National Innovation Systems: Lessons From an Exercise Comprising a Large Sample of Both Developed, Emerging and Developing Economies
Author(s)
Godinho, Manuel Mira
Mendonça, Sandro F.
Pereira, Tiago Santos
Mendonça, Sandro F.
Pereira, Tiago Santos
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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to put forward a taxonomy of national innovation systems
(NISs). With that purpose in mind we will first implement a technique for mapping
innovation systems that was developed by Godinho et al. (2003). Such mapping allows
one to compare directly different NISs, by visualizing in bi-dimensional space the
graphic pattern of the relevant dimensions of each innovation system. Next the
quantitative output of this NISs mapping will be used as the basis for performing a
cluster analysis in a second step. The resulting country groupings will be analysed for
identifying the major factors separating different NISs types. This will be the basis for a
definition of a possible NISs taxonomy. In the paper eight major dimensions along which innovation systems develop are
highlighted. These dimensions include market conditions; institutional conditions;
intangible and tangible investments; basic and applied knowledge; external
communication; diffusion; and innovation. For materialising such eight NIS dimensions
29 individual indicators were selected for a total of 69 countries. These countries range
from the most developed and largest economies in the world, through the emerging
economies, to the less advanced developing countries. For each of the 8 relevant NIS
dimensions between 2 and 6 of these 29 indicators were allocated. The definition of the
NIS dimensions and the selection of indicators tried to respect theoretical and logic
criteria of organization of the data. Overall the data basis that was developed and the methodological steps that were taken
represent a unique attempt to cover such a large and diverse number of countries with
the aim of analysing their behaviour in terms of creating, consolidating and advancing
their national innovation systems. As it will be shown, the resulting outcomes of this
paper have empirical, theoretical and normative potential. Following this introduction the paper is divided into five main sections. Section 2
presents the conceptual context of the mapping and taxonomisation exercise that will be
carried out. In section 3 the method followed is described, with information about the
observed NIS dimensions, about the variables aggregated into each of those dimensions
and about the economies that were selected as well. Next section 4 presents the results
of the empirical analysis, by concentrating first on the mapping of the individual NISs
and then on the structure that stems from a cluster analysis. The clusters that emerged
are observed in section 5, providing an interpretation for the contrasting positions of the
different countries involved in this exercise. Finally, the concluding section attempts at
a generalization based on the analyses of the previous sections, suggesting a possible
taxonomy of national innovation systems.
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Date Issued
2006-10
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