Interactions in knowledge systems: Foundations, policy implications and empirical methods

Abstract

Recent years have seen fundamental changes in the ways we conceptualise innovation processes. The purpose of this paper is to explore one such reassessment, namely 'systems' approaches to innovation: the objective is to discuss the basis and policy implications of the approach, and then the extent to which policy-relevant empirical descriptions of systems are possible. What kinds of indicators and empirical methods can we use to characterise the profile and interactions of an innovation system?