OECD TIP project on R&D intensity as a policy target: case study Finland

OECD: "The OECD project ‘R&D intensity as a policy target’ (2019-20) explored the relationship between aggregate national R&D performance and disparities at the regional, sectoral and firm levels, as well as the relevance of R&D intensity targets in a context of digital and AI-driven innovation. It also explored the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on science, technology and innovation systems. The project provided practical policy guidance to countries.

 

The project was conducted by the Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy (TIP). It used a mix of research methods and a cross-country analytical approach. Delegates to the TIP from Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union were part of the steering group that oversaw the project development.

 

The final launch event of the project "R&D policies for better post-pandemic futures: New approaches and tools" took place on 20-21 May 2021. The event was organised jointly by the OECD, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland."

R&D intensity targets have been a popular policy tool as to boost economic growth. However, what the experience is with these targets in terms of their design, implementation and results is not clear. Picking up on earlier work done by the OECD on this topic the TIP OECD project "R&D intensity as policy target" aims to collect and summarize up-to-date knowledge and evidence from around the globe. On demand from the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment our team contributed to this OECD project with an extensive Finnish case study. The Finnish case study was finalized and presented with 10 other country cases during a joint OECD-VTT event on 20-21 May 2021. The Finnish case study will also be published as a OECD STI Policy Paper during 2021.

See: https://community.oecd.org/community/cstp/tip/rdintensity/overview