The Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (STI) 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.

It also manages databases of internationally comparable statistics in the areas of science, technology and industry. These statistics and indicators underpin policy-related analytical work, particularly with respect to links between innovation, technology, competitiveness and globalisation.

What's new

Modes of Public Funding of Research and Development: Towards Internationally Comparable Indicators

24-May-2012

This paper presents the results of the data collection across 18 countries, demonstrating that it is possible to produce new policy relevant indicators on public funding of R&D in addition to those envisaged in the OECD Frascati Manual. The initial findings highlight interesting differences across countries in terms of their approaches to R&D funding.

Proactive Policy Measures by Internet Service Providers against Botnets

22-May-2012

This report analyses initiatives in a number of countries through which end-users are notified by Internet service providers when their computer is identified as being compromised by malicious software and encouraged to take action to mitigate the problem. It reviews the core dimensions of these initiatives and provides high-level guidance for future policy development.

ICT Skills and Employment: New Competences and Jobs for a Greener and Smarter Economy

04-May-2012

The emerging "green" economy is a "smarter" economy that has increased demand for ICT-skilled jobs not only in the ICT sector, but more rapidly across the wider non-ICT economy. The further creation of new jobs can only occur, however, if the right mix of skills and competences are available in the labour market. Shortages of required ICT-related skills have been observed in some OECD countries, and this is particularly true for skills related to green ICTs.

International Comparative Evidence on Global Value Chains

26-Apr-2012

International production, trade and investments are increasingly organised within so-called global value chains (GVCs) where the different stages in the production process are located across different economies. Until now, GVCs have been largely discussed from a conceptual and theoretical view, but empirical work on international fragmentation has stayed a bit behind. This review of the available data and indicators on GVCs shows their increasing importance in today’s global economy, but at the same time clearly highlights some major shortcomings.

Measuring the 'Broadband Bonus' in 30 OECD Countries

23-Apr-2012

This paper provides estimates of the economic value created by broadband Internet using measures of new gross domestic product and consumer surplus. It finds that the economic value created in 30 OECD countries correlates roughly with the overall size of their broadband economies. In addition, price and quality data from the United States suggest that widespread adoption of broadband Internet has occurred without a dramatic decline in prices, which reflects an unobserved increase in broadband quality that conventional government statistics do not capture.

Measuring the Impact of Innovations in Public IT Infrastructure on the Standard of Living in OECD Economies

19-Apr-2012

This paper utilises an economic model that looks at the end result – observations on changes in the pattern of consumer spending behaviour – and econometrically estimates the extent of the link between these behavioural changes and their drivers: traditional economic stimuli as well as changes in the economic environment due to advances in technology and improved provision of public sector IT infrastructure.

Symposium on New Science-Based Tools for Anticipating and Responding to Global Crises

on 18-Apr-2012

This event explored the prospects of providing innovative, actionable information and advice to policymakers and other stakeholders, based on the results of contemporary research on complex dynamic systems.

The Export Performance of Countries within Global Value Chains (GVCs)

16-Apr-2012

The growing importance of GVCs in the international organisation of production increasingly challenges the traditional way of measuring countries’ export performance and hence international competitiveness. This working paper discusses the export performance of countries along the value chain by distinguishing upstream activities (i.e. the production of intermediate inputs) and more downstream activities (e.g. the final assembly of products).

Information and Communication Technologies and Productivity Growth: A Survey of the Literature

16-Apr-2012

The wealth of nations and their economic fortunes are ultimately driven by productivity. More productive workers earn higher wages and experience higher living standards than past generations. Hence, studying the driving forces behind productivity growth is an important question for researchers and policymakers alike. This paper presents a review of existing studies on dynamic, macroeconomic effects of ICT on productivity and growth.

Measuring the Internet: The Data Challenge

13-Apr-2012

Measuring the economic and social impacts of the Internet presents several challenges. This working paper reviews the rapidly changing nature of the Internet, the need for more granular data in order to understand its complexity, and the phenomenon of big data, which makes it possible to measure almost anything.

OECD releases guide for public engagement and outreach in nanotechnology

23-Mar-2012

This guide comprises eight key points for planning public engagement activities. It contains a set of questions to help policy makers develop a plan from start to finish, as well as practical case studies from countries that have used the guide in their communication activities.

Statistics: OECD and WTO to start measuring trade in value-added as production chains globalise

15-Mar-2012

Companies are increasingly producing goods and services through supply chains spanning different countries.

Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management for Public to Private Knowledge Transfer: An Analytic Review of the Literature

06-Mar-2012

This paper reviews the current academic thinking on knowledge transfer channels between universities and private industry from a human resource perspective. It also offers a general framework for "reorganising" the literature, so as to identify gaps in the understanding of organisational behavior and human resource management for university-industry knowledge transfer. The review highlights that knowledge transfer channels with highest "relational intensity" are also most valued by industry, and that most knowledge transfer channels are not currently institutionalised or formalised.

New OECD report on developments in mobile termination rates

01-Mar-2012

Mobile termination rates decreased across the OECD by 53% between 2006 and 2011. Cutting rates to zero would strengthen competition in voice and other services, according to this report. It could also speed up the introduction of innovative new VoIP services and encourage providers to offer a range of tariff models to meet the needs of their users, free from prices reflecting monopoly power on the networks of others.

Frascati Manual: new annex available on measuring research and development (R&D) in developing countries

29-Feb-2012

Despite the Frascati Manual's widespread use, significant usage gaps remain, especially in Africa, Central and South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. There is widespread interest in the nature and role of R&D in developing economies, raising questions on how it should be measured within the guidelines set out in the Frascati Manual. A new annex provides an initial attempt to address some of the most salient issues.

OECD and EPO continue co-operation on patent data

22-Feb-2012

With a view to furthering their co-operation on exploring the role of patents, the OECD has signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Patent Office (EPO) valid for the next three years. “Our collaboration has produced data that improves the international patent system and helps measure patent activity,” said OECD Deputy Secretary-General Richard Boucher.

Protecting children online

21-Feb-2012

As the Internet permeates every aspect of our economy and society, it is also a daily reality in our children’s lives. While it brings considerable benefits to their education and development, it also exposes them to online risks such as access to inappropriate content, abusive interaction with others, exposure to aggressive marketing practices and privacy risks. The OECD has just released recommendations aiming to protect minors online.

More competition is key to cutting excessive international mobile roaming charges, says OECD

21-Feb-2012

To help governments boost competition and drive down excessive prices in international mobile roaming markets, the OECD has released a series of recommendations to protect consumers.

Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI) 2011/2: R&D spending hit by the economic downturn in 2009

15-Feb-2012

MSTI is a timely set of indicators that reflect the level and structure of efforts undertaken in the field of science and technology. The latest data help look at what happened to R&D investments during the latest years of the global recession. Namely, gross domestic expenditures on R&D in the OECD area shrunk by 1.6% in real terms in 2009 and for the first time since 1993. The decrease is mainly driven by a sharp reduction of expenditure in business (-4.5%) in contrast to other sectors, particularly higher education (+4.8%), where R&D spending kept growing. 

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.

See more news and events… Top of page

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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