As probably you know if you are interested in benchmark of innovation performance in Europe, there are several sources of information, analysis and benchmarking of innovation policy performance, as for instance:
All of them benchmark, on a yearly basis, the innovation performance of Member States, drawing on statistics from a variety of sources.
However, some of us miss updated systematic benchmarks at the regional level (NUT 2), and considering a broader definition of innovation (not only Science & Technology or Competitiveness oriented, but also Eco-innovation and Social Innovation, for instance).
The last report that we have found with this orientation is “Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2006 RIS ” produced by Innometrics with statistical information from years 2003-2005. Unfortunately, this report has not been followed by any other (as has been the case of “European Innovation Scoreboard“, that has had yearly issues from 2001 to 2008 - and is foreseen to have al least up to 2010)
So we would like to create a community of people interested in sharing information from their regions, and their views on how Innovation should be measured at the regional level. Our goal will be to produce, on a yearly basis, a Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2.0., with the cooperation and direct involvement of persons from at least 50 regions (NUT 2) in Europe.
First report will be produced in February 2010.
Rules of engagement:
- We believe that innovation happens also (and probably mainly) at regional level. Country innovation systems are OK, but regional innovation systems should be taken into account.
- This is not an “official” initiative, nor is supported by any public administration.
- This is “user-oriented”: we do not want to compete with sources cited above, but to cooperate with them. We will be happy if they produce in the future “Regional Innovation Scoreboards”, and we will cooperate with any initiative in this direction.
- Our goal is to share benchmark information from different sources, not to produce our own indicators, nor engage in theoretical debates on statistics, innovation, indicators or any combination of them.
- The report will be produced in a cooperative way, using Wiki or similar tools.
- We will not look for private or public funding. We want this iniatitive to keep simple and free: people sharing information under a Creative Commons license (we will discuss later on which one).
- We are not naive nor inexperienced. We are aware of the conceptual, statistical and practical issues involved in such a benchmarking exercise, and also of the challenges of cooperative work (See Forrester on Innobasque and Social Networks): we just think impossible is nothing.
- And yes, we are aware of all the consortia and networks working under different European Commission schemes in these issues (as the IRE Network), and no, we haven’t got the Ring tu rule them all. As we have said this is a Web 2.0. kind of thing.
¿How do we start? We have created a Linkedin Group and this WordPress Blog. Both initiatives will work together, and feed each other. If needed we will evolve into more complete tools – Ning or something.
Our target is simple: Create a community by the end of 2009 with people from at least 50 European regions, and produce our first report by February 2010.
If you are interested, please send us an e-mail or join our Linkedin group. Typically your work will be related to promotion of innovation at a regional level (from public or private agencies, universities, research institutions, etc…), but we are open to other profiles.
By first week of september we will produce and distribute our first Workprogramme (suggestions are welcome).
Welcome aboard!
guiller
Alaitz Landaluze
hhollanders
