Instruments and instrument mixes for knowledge transfer and science industry relations

The aim of the paper is to analyze the set of policy instruments (and the policy mix) used to enhance knowledge transfer and science-industry relationships in eight selected countries. There are various arguments about the importance of knowledge transfer. Firstly, we have a limited understanding of the mechanisms of knowledge transfer and science-industry relationships; secondly, we have not advanced much in understanding how policies (and instruments) affect knowledge transfer and science-industry relationships; and thirdly, we still do not fully comprehend how different instruments accumulate or interact into “policy mixes” and to what extent there are synergies or negative effects among them.

By Luis Sanz-Menéndez and Laura Cruz-Castro (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas)