On the pursuit of systemic technology policies in an unstable environment: Reflections on a Swedish case

Research Evaluation

Volumn 6, Issue 2, 1996, Pages 143-157

  Granberg, Anders ^a  

^a LUND UNIVERSITY   (Sweden)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0012147166     PISSN: 09582029     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/rev/6.2.143     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. A Granberg: "Mapping the cognitive and institutional structures of an evolving advanced-materials field: the case of powder technology", RPI, Lund, 1993 (to appear as a chapter in STS volume, in preparation).
2. Many of the policy reports published by the OECD are illustrative of these tendencies, if allowance is made for some variations in the terminology used; see, for instance, OECD, "Technical change and economic policy: science and technology in the new economic and social context" (Paris, 1980); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1985" (Paris, 1985); OECD, "New technologies in the 1990s: a socio-economic strategy" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1988" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Industrial policy in OECD countries: annual review 1989" (Paris, 1989). For a Swedish policy statement in this vein, see NUTEK, "Research and development: forward look and proposals for 1993-1996" (Stockholm, 1993).
3. Many of the policy reports published by the OECD are illustrative of these tendencies, if allowance is made for some variations in the terminology used; see, for instance, OECD, "Technical change and economic policy: science and technology in the new economic and social context" (Paris, 1980); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1985" (Paris, 1985); OECD, "New technologies in the 1990s: a socio-economic strategy" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1988" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Industrial policy in OECD countries: annual review 1989" (Paris, 1989). For a Swedish policy statement in this vein, see NUTEK, "Research and development: forward look and proposals for 1993-1996" (Stockholm, 1993).
4. Many of the policy reports published by the OECD are illustrative of these tendencies, if allowance is made for some variations in the terminology used; see, for instance, OECD, "Technical change and economic policy: science and technology in the new economic and social context" (Paris, 1980); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1985" (Paris, 1985); OECD, "New technologies in the 1990s: a socio-economic strategy" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1988" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Industrial policy in OECD countries: annual review 1989" (Paris, 1989). For a Swedish policy statement in this vein, see NUTEK, "Research and development: forward look and proposals for 1993-1996" (Stockholm, 1993).
5. Many of the policy reports published by the OECD are illustrative of these tendencies, if allowance is made for some variations in the terminology used; see, for instance, OECD, "Technical change and economic policy: science and technology in the new economic and social context" (Paris, 1980); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1985" (Paris, 1985); OECD, "New technologies in the 1990s: a socio-economic strategy" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1988" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Industrial policy in OECD countries: annual review 1989" (Paris, 1989). For a Swedish policy statement in this vein, see NUTEK, "Research and development: forward look and proposals for 1993-1996" (Stockholm, 1993).
6. Many of the policy reports published by the OECD are illustrative of these tendencies, if allowance is made for some variations in the terminology used; see, for instance, OECD, "Technical change and economic policy: science and technology in the new economic and social context" (Paris, 1980); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1985" (Paris, 1985); OECD, "New technologies in the 1990s: a socio-economic strategy" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1988" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Industrial policy in OECD countries: annual review 1989" (Paris, 1989). For a Swedish policy statement in this vein, see NUTEK, "Research and development: forward look and proposals for 1993-1996" (Stockholm, 1993).
7. Many of the policy reports published by the OECD are illustrative of these tendencies, if allowance is made for some variations in the terminology used; see, for instance, OECD, "Technical change and economic policy: science and technology in the new economic and social context" (Paris, 1980); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1985" (Paris, 1985); OECD, "New technologies in the 1990s: a socio-economic strategy" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Science and technology policy outlook 1988" (Paris, 1988); OECD, "Industrial policy in OECD countries: annual review 1989" (Paris, 1989). For a Swedish policy statement in this vein, see NUTEK, "Research and development: forward look and proposals for 1993-1996" (Stockholm, 1993).
8. The connectedness of these themes, or the need to combine them in the framing of policies, has been emphasised by some analysts. For instance, the public support of industrial collaborative research is looked upon as a way of fostering the development of generic technology in Jong-Tsong Chiang, "Application of game theory in government strategies for industrial collaborative research and development", Technology in Society, 2, 1995. The use of such R&D support to promote technology diffusion and absorption is discussed in J A Alic, "Technical knowledge and technology diffusion: new issues for US government policy", Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 4, 1993.
9. The connectedness of these themes, or the need to combine them in the framing of policies, has been emphasised by some analysts. For instance, the public support of industrial collaborative research is looked upon as a way of fostering the development of generic technology in Jong-Tsong Chiang, "Application of game theory in government strategies for industrial collaborative research and development", Technology in Society, 2, 1995. The use of such R&D support to promote technology diffusion and absorption is discussed in J A Alic, "Technical knowledge and technology diffusion: new issues for US government policy", Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 4, 1993.
10. For a review of the rise, in science policy, of complex non-linear models of technological change, see B Ruivo, "'Phases' or 'paradigms' of science policy", Science and Public Policy, 21(3), June 1994, pages 157-164. Ruivo suggests that the growing prominence of such models, which encompass a variety of actors, institutions, and processes, is associated with a stronger emphasis on "strategic basic, interdisciplinary and collaborative research" (page 162).
11. For a review of the rise, in science policy, of complex non-linear models of technological change, see B Ruivo, "'Phases' or 'paradigms' of science policy", Science and Public Policy, 21(3), June 1994, pages 157-164. Ruivo suggests that the growing prominence of such models, which encompass a variety of actors, institutions, and processes, is associated with a stronger emphasis on "strategic basic, interdisciplinary and collaborative research" (page 162).
12. On the development of high-temperature superconductivity and the need for 'parallel' policy approaches, see, for instance, G J Smith, J A Alexander, A B Buyrn and J A Alic, "High temperature superconductivity: prospects and policies", Futures, June 1989; or M Crow, "Technology development in Japan and the United States: lessons from the high-temperature superconductivity race", Science and Public Policy, 16(6), December 1989, pages 322-344.
13. On the development of high-temperature superconductivity and the need for 'parallel' policy approaches, see, for instance, G J Smith, J A Alexander, A B Buyrn and J A Alic, "High temperature superconductivity: prospects and policies", Futures, June 1989; or M Crow, "Technology development in Japan and the United States: lessons from the high-temperature superconductivity race", Science and Public Policy, 16(6), December 1989, pages 322-344.
14. A technological field can be thought of as a complex web of interrelated technical problems and problem solutions. A specific solution may be captured by the more narrow concept of a technique.
15. B Carlsson and R Stankiewicz, "On the nature, function, and composition of technological systems", Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 1(2), 1991.
16. A similar view of the structure of a generic technology is developed, in a corporate perspective, in K Miyazaki, "Interlinkages between systems, key components and component generic technologies in building competences", Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 1, 1994.
17. The working titles of two studies in progress are, "Nurturing a national technological system: a study of the Swedish reaction to the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity" and "A study of combustion technology as a generic field".
18. The initial plan is set out in an undated document: "Pulverteknik 90 - FoU programme förutveckling av komponenter genom metallisk och keramisk pulverteknik och implementering av dessa i svensk verkstadsindustri". The final plan submitted for approval can be found in the document, also undated, entitled "Pulverteknik 90 - FoU-programme: pulverteknologiskt framställda konstruktions- och verktygsmaterial". STU's funding request to the Ministry of Industry for the first five fiscal years, which was approved on 27 September 1990, was for the following series of annual allocations (in million Skr): 8.0; 13.5; 17.0; 23.0; 23.0.
19. SIND, "Avancerade materials betydelse för den svenska verkstadsinduslrin," SIND PM 1987:4, Stockholm, 1987; IVA, "Svensk materialutveckling i förnyelse", IVA-medde-lande 259, Stockholm, 1988; FMV, "FMV utredningsuppdrag avseende det material-tekniska området: slutrapport", FMV/STUD 1988-11-07, Stockholm, 1988.
20. SIND, "Avancerade materials betydelse för den svenska verkstadsinduslrin," SIND PM 1987:4, Stockholm, 1987; IVA, "Svensk materialutveckling i förnyelse", IVA-medde-lande 259, Stockholm, 1988; FMV, "FMV utredningsuppdrag avseende det material-tekniska området: slutrapport", FMV/STUD 1988-11-07, Stockholm, 1988.
21. SIND, "Avancerade materials betydelse för den svenska verkstadsinduslrin," SIND PM 1987:4, Stockholm, 1987; IVA, "Svensk materialutveckling i förnyelse", IVA-medde-lande 259, Stockholm, 1988; FMV, "FMV utredningsuppdrag avseende det material-tekniska området: slutrapport", FMV/STUD 1988-11-07, Stockholm, 1988.
22. The two research bills are published as "Regeringens proposition 1986/87:80 om forskning", Norstedts, Stockholm, 1987; and "Regeringens proposition 1989/90:90 om forskning", Norstedts, Stockholm, 1990.
23. Affärsväriden, "Specialen: tvärstoppet", 5, 30 January 1991. For an engineering-industry survey, see Affärsväriden, "Specialen: verkstadsindustrins kris", 7, 13 February 1991.
24. Affärsväriden, "Specialen: tvärstoppet", 5, 30 January 1991. For an engineering-industry survey, see Affärsväriden, "Specialen: verkstadsindustrins kris", 7, 13 February 1991.
25. NUTEK, "Report of the International Evaluation Committee, April 1995", NUTEK Info 280-1995, Stockholm, 1995. The quotations are from the Executive Summary, page 3.
26. For an example of an organised experimental approach to technology policy change, see G Tassey, "The technology policy experiment as a policy research tool", Research Policy, 1, February 1985.