innovationspolicy

Innovationspolicy refers to the public policy framework designed to promote innovation across the economy and society. It comprises the goals, instruments, and institutional arrangements a government uses to raise the rate, diffusion, and application of new ideas, technologies, and ways of organizing work. The overarching aims usually include raising productivity, spurring sustainable growth, improving competitiveness, and addressing societal challenges such as health, climate, and digital inclusion.

Core instruments commonly found in innovationspolicy include public funding for research and development and grants to universities and firms; tax incentives for R&D; public procurement designed to stimulate innovative solutions; regulatory reforms and sandbox environments to reduce unnecessary barriers; an IP regime that balances protection with diffusion; investment in human capital and digital infrastructure; data access and sharing policies; support for startups and venture capital; and mechanisms for public-private partnerships and regional innovation clusters. Many policies blend national strategies with regional and sectoral programs and emphasize collaboration among universities, industry, and government, often with international cooperation and standard-setting components.

Governance focuses on designing coherent policy mixes, coordinating across ministries, and using evidence to steer programs. Impact is monitored with indicators such as R&D expenditure relative to GDP, counts of innovative firms and patent activity, productivity growth, and employment in knowledge-intensive sectors. Policy design increasingly emphasizes evaluation, transparency, adaptability, and the use of sunset clauses to reallocate resources where needed.

Critiques point to implementation failures, measurement challenges, distortions of competition, and unequal distribution of benefits. Effective innovationspolicy typically requires clear objectives, credible funding, rigorous evaluation, and inclusive strategies that engage stakeholders across regions and groups.