Models of Technology Development in Intermediate Research Organisations

Andrea Mina
University of Cambridge

David Connell
University of Cambridge

Alan Hughes
University of Cambridge

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     Last modified: February 26, 2010

Abstract
The development and exploitation of new scientific and technological know-how is a prime engine of economic growth. Different innovation systems have developed different approaches to this problem and have built upon varying combinations of public and private support for R&D over time. In this context, research and technology intermediaries play an important infrastructural, brokering and entrepreneurial role. This paper contains a comparative institutional analysis of the policy and business models of the Fraunhofer Society (Germany), IMEC (Belgium), the Holst Centre (the Netherlands) and ITRI (Taiwan). It includes an investigation and discussion of their main features, modus operandi, opportunities/risks and trade-offs. The study responds to the need to gain better understanding of possible ways to strengthen the capacity of the UK economy to generate value from its science and technology base. The case studies presented in this paper offer a number of useful lessons for the development of innovation policy instruments of great potential benefit to the UK plc. as well as to other economies trying to strengthen the competitive prospects of their manufacturing base.