The Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry leads the OECD’s work on knowledge-based sources of economic and social growth and, more specifically, on the translation of science, technology and knowledge into innovation.

What's new

OECD Programme on Innovation, Higher Education and Research for Development

07-Feb-2012

This programme aims to raise awareness and increase knowledge of policy and management instruments in higher education, research and innovation, and to share this knowledge so that countries are better able to plan, produce and use research for sustainable economic development and growth.

OECD Insights: The Internet of Things

31-Jan-2012

A new report entitled "Machine-to-Machine Communication: Connecting Billions of Devices" looks at examples of some of the uses of machine-to-machine communication today and its potential to enhance economic and social development. It concludes that to achieve such benefits, changes to telecommunication policy and regulatory frameworks are likely to be needed.

Telecoms reform would boost competition and growth in Mexico, says OECD

31-Jan-2012

Mexico should quickly reform the laws and regulations governing its telecommunications sector to boost competition and investment and drive growth across the economy, according to a new OECD report.

The New Geography of Innovation and the Impact of the Economic Crisis

from 19-Jan-2012 to 20-Jan-2012

This symposium brought together a group of prominent experts and policy makers from around the world to deliberate on various aspects of innovation policy and its link to economic growth, and to review country experiences.

ICT Applications for the Smart Grid: Opportunities and Policy Implications

13-Jan-2012

The smart grid is revolutionizing electricity production and consumption. However, strategic use of ICTs and the Internet in energy innovation requires clarifying the roles of partners coming from distinct industries. And it begs for greater coordination of government departments and stakeholder communities that so far had unrelated competencies. This report outlines opportunities, challenges and public policy implications from shifts to ICT-enabled, "smart" electricity grids.

Report on the Effective Modelling of Urban Systems to Address the Challenges of Climate Change and Sustainability

05-Jan-2012

This report presents the main outcomes and recommendations of this Global Science Forum project. It identifies the existing tools and strategies for urban modelling and their current limitations, and proposes a series of policy recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness and use of urban models. 

Report of the Working Group to Facilitate International Co-operation in Non-Commercial Clinical Trials

05-Jan-2012

This report identifies the hurdles encountered by the clinical research community in setting up international clinical trials and proposes a series of policy recommendations aimed at overcoming the main challenges.

Financing High-Growth Firms: The Role of Angel Investors

23-Dec-2011

Angel investment is the primary source of outside equity financing and support for start-ups in a number of countries, yet it is frequently overlooked as angel investors are often not visible. This book covers seed stage financing for high-growth companies in OECD and non-OECD countries with a primary focus on angel investment. It provides an overview of angel financing, including a description of how it has evolved and policy interventions taken within some countries.

What future for the family?

21-Dec-2011

The family landscape in OECD countries has changed enormously over the last few decades. A January 2012 publication explores likely future changes in family and household structures in OECD countries, and identifies the main forces shaping the family landscape to 2030. It discusses the longer-term challenges and suggests policy options for managing them.

Biotechnology in 12 indicators

21-Dec-2011

The December 2011 edition of the OECD's Key Biotechnology Indicators brings together the latest available economic and activity data on biotechnology and innovation, collected by OECD member and non-member countries. It builds on the extensive work of the OECD and national experts to improve the comparability of biotechnology statistics.

OECD urges members to protect open Internet

14-Dec-2011

The openness of the Internet has been key in stimulating innovation and economic growth and stems from its multi-stakeholder model of development and management. Amid growing concern that this openness is eroding, the OECD has adopted a set of shared principles to preserve the fundamentally open and dynamic nature of the Internet.

OECD’s Gurría welcomes UK strategy to put innovation at heart of growth agenda

08-Dec-2011

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría welcomes the release of the “Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth”. The report, released today by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, focuses on innovation as a key driver of sustainable economic growth.

OECD Steel Committee signals growing uncertainty over industry outlook

07-Dec-2011

The outlook for the global steel market has become more uncertain, according to industry and government officials at the OECD’s Steel Committee meeting in Paris on 5-6 December 2011. Policies to support open markets for raw materials are key, they said.

Internet economy: wireless subscribers drive broadband growth, says OECD

01-Dec-2011

Demand from new wireless subscribers is driving growth in high-speed Internet in OECD countries but the latest data show a slowdown in fixed broadband subscriptions in the first half of 2011.

OECD Review of Innovation Policy: Peru

01-Dec-2011

Just published, this book provides a comprehensive assessment of the innovation system of Peru, focusing on the role of government. It provides concrete recommendations and identifies good practices on how to improve policies that affect innovation performance.

Digital Identity Management for Natural Persons: Enabling Innovation and Trust in the Internet Economy - Guidance for Government Policy

01-Dec-2011

This report explains why digital identity management is fundamental for the further development of the Internet economy. It also provides guidance for digital identity strategies that support innovation across the public and private sectors while enhancing security, privacy and trust online.

Current Developments in Privacy Frameworks: Towards Global Interoperability

on 01-Nov-2011

With important changes underway in privacy frameworks around the world, the OECD is organising this conference hosted by the Ministry of the Economy of Mexico in conjunction with the Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection, to be held back-to-back with the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners.

Business Innovation Policies: Selected Country Comparisons

27-Oct-2011

This study is concerned with trends in and key features of policies and programmes used by governments to support innovation in the business sector. In addition to identifying good practices across a range of programme types, it compares business innovation policies across a number of countries.

China-OECD Roundtable on Innovation Policies

from 18-Oct-2011 to 19-Oct-2011

In addition to being the 50th anniversary of the OECD, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of China’s first OECD observer status through its observership in the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP). This anniversary roundtable will focus on three policy issues of common interest to China and OECD countries: governance of national innovation systems, management of public research, and demand-side policies for innovation.

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Broadband Statistics

Now updated with data through June 2011

OECD Broadband Portal

STI Scoreboard

A wide set of indicators of science, technology, innovation and industrial performance in OECD and major non-OECD countries

OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2011

An internationally applicable set of indicators to measure environmental performance at facility level

OECD Sustainable Manufacturing Toolkit

Innovation

Getting a head start on tomorrow

The OECD Innovation Strategy

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