Roles, effectiveness, and impact of VTT: Towards broad-based impact monitoring of a research and technology organisation

Torsti Loikkanen, Nina Rilla, Matthias Deschryvere, Janne Lehenkari, Juha Oksanen, Jukka Hyvönen, Robert van der Have, Erik Arnold

    Research output: Book/ReportReport

    Abstract

    Research and technology organisations (RTOs) are key players in the national innovation systems of many industrialised countries and they act as an increasingly recognized knowledge pool in boosting innovation and economic development in the European Union. RTOs receive basic funding for their strategic long-term research and the development of scientific competence from government. They also receive state funds for joint research funded by national agencies and EU Framework Programmes, and obtain contract research income from private and public customers. All funding sources are under pressure due to changes in the national and global economic and innovation landscape and growing performance, effectiveness, and impact pressure on research, technology, and innovation (RTI). In this context, the aim of this study is to investigate the roles, legitimacy, and socio-economic impacts of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. This study has the following objectives: (1) To give a European and global perspective on the roles, rationale, and trends of RTOs, in order to out our analysis of VTT in perspective; (2) in the context of the Finnish innovation system, to explore the roles through which VTT enhances innovation performance and generates socio-economic and ecological impact; (3) to outline a toolbox of methodologies for exploring VTT's impact; (4) to carry out a quantitative analysis of innovations in the SFINNO database concerning VTT's contribution; (5) to carry out a case-study analysis of seven individual innovations involving a VTT contribution; and (6) to assess and make recommendations for topics and methodologies in VTT's impact studies in the future. VTT's roles and impact are considered in the context of major global socio-economic and technological challenges, and special attention has been paid to VTT's internationalisation and its roles in enhancing the innovation performance of small- and medium-sized companies.
    Original languageEnglish
    Place of PublicationEspoo
    PublisherVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
    Number of pages116
    ISBN (Electronic)978-951-38-8038-5
    ISBN (Print)978-951-38-8037-8
    Publication statusPublished - 2013
    MoE publication typeD4 Published development or research report or study

    Publication series

    SeriesVTT Technology
    Number113
    ISSN2242-1211

    Keywords

    • VTT
    • impact
    • impact monitoring
    • RTO

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