Regional Innovation Networks

In 2007 an evaluative study “Effectiveness of ICT RTD Impacts on the EU Innovation System” was conducted for the European Commission, DG INFSO Evaluation and Monitoring Unit, by ALTEC SA and Edna Pasher PhD & Associates (Allee et al 2007a and 2007b) under the direction of Peter Johnston, Head of Unit, and Frank Cunningham, Evaluation Specialist. The aim was to assess how effectively EU ICT RTD and deployment initiatives are being exploited in European systems of innovation at member state and regional levels.

Four methodologies were applied to this question: Intellectual Capital Assessment, Value Network Analysis, the PACE toolkit (Project Assets, Core competences and Exploitable items) and macro-econometric Multivariate Statistical Methods. This empirical approach combined a quantitative elaboration of data available for all EU regions with a more in-depth analysis of 10 regions.

There were three primary goals for the evaluation: 1) to understand the effectiveness of networks of collaboration in facilitating knowledge transfer across regions and sectors; 2) to identify where and how the links between ICT RTD, technology diffusion and systems of innovation could be strengthened at the EU, Member State and Regional levels; and 3) to target where and how to strengthen the impact of EU ICT RTD and deployment initiatives by leveraging on Structural Funds programmes, co-ordinated public procurement and Information Society deployment initiatives.

The value network aspects are described in detail in the Annex to the Final report. Both the report and the Annex are linked below: