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Science, technology and innovation policy

OECD Reviews of Innovation Policy: Norway

 

Table of contents | How to obtain this publication

Pages: 209
Published July 2008
ISBN 978-92-64-04373-2

What are a country’s achievements in innovation, and how does this relate to economic performance?

What are the major features, strengths and weaknesses, of its innovation system? How can government foster innovation?

The OECD Reviews of Innovation Policy offer a comprehensive assessment of the innovation system of individual OECD member and non-member countries, focusing on the role of government. They provide concrete recommendations on how to improve policies which impact on innovation performance, including R&D policies. Each review identifies good practices from which other countries can learn.

Norway’s economic performance has been consistently very good for a long time, and average real incomes in Norway are now among the highest in the world. The growing size and profitability of the offshore hydrocarbons sector has been a major factor, but even if that sector is excluded from the calculations, per capita GDP in mainland Norway is higher than in the major EU countries. The key strategic task ahead for the Norwegian government is to maintain high, sustainable growth even after the depletion of oil and gas reserves. Any foreseeable restructuring of the Norwegian economy compatible with this goal will entail a shift towards knowledge-based activities for which innovation is the key determinant of competitiveness. This report assesses the current status of Norway’s innovation system and policies, and identifies where and how the government should focus its efforts to improve the country's innovation capabilities.

Table of contents

Overall Assessment and Recommendations (included in English and French)

  • Main strengths and weaknesses of Norway’s innovation system
  • Analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
  • Strategic tasks and guiding principles
  • Recommendations:
    • Improving framework conditions for innovation
    • Improving governance of the innovation system
    • Improving the effectiveness of research funding
    • Promoting innovation in the business sector
    • Maximising benefits from the internationalisation of R&D

Chapter 1. Economic Performance and Framework Conditions for
Innovation

  • Innovation and economic performance
  • Framework conditions for innovation
  • Assessing the efficiency of the innovation system: the methodological
    approach

Chapter 2. Innovation Actors in Norway

  • Division of labour among main R&D performers
  • The business sector
  • The public research sector
  • Interaction among actors and supporting infrastructures
  • Financing innovation: venture capital
  • Human resources for S&T and innovation: the flight from science

Chapter 3. The Role of Government

  • Main current policy priorities and challenges
  • Governance and policy mix
  • Portfolio of instruments

Annex. Norway's R&D Performance in International Perspective: Benchmarking Indicators

How to obtain this publication

  • Subscribers and readers at subscribing institutions can access the online edition via SourceOECD, our online library.
  • Non-subscribers can browse and purchase the PDF e-book and/or paperback via our OECD Online Bookshop.
  • Government officials with accounts () can go to the "Books" tab on OLIS.
  • Journalists can contact Gernot Hutschenreiter of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry.

 

Last updated: 21 July 2008

 

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