Harnessing public research for innovation in the 21st Century

• Author: Catherine Jewell
• Position: Information and Digital Outreach Division, WIPO

Anthony Arundel, co-author of Harnessing public research for innovation in the 21st Century: An international assessment of knowledge transfer policies, published by Cambridge University Press, discusses the main gaps in our understanding of how knowledge transfer works and key considerations for policymakers in crafting effective knowledge transfer policies for the future.

What is the aim of your book?

Countries have implemented strategies to increase the commercialization of public research to support economic growth for years. Yet, the commercial potential of a great deal of knowledge and expertise in the public research system in many countries remains untapped.

Since the 1990s, many countries have migrated towards a so-called "IP licensing model," where the public research sector generates new knowledge, patents it and then licenses it to businesses or government agencies.

We examine the experiences of three high-income economies: Germany, the Republic of Korea and the UK; and three middle-income economies: Brazil, China, and South Africa.

The history and policy challenges of these countries is of real interest. They all migrated towards an IP licensing model, yet came up with a variety of policies and practices for knowledge transfer to adapt to the numerous contextual conditions that influenced outcomes. They each have different industrial structures and levels of technological competence within their public research and business sectors. And they have all undergone major changes in their national policies in recent decades to improve knowledge transfer and commercialization.

Our analysis sheds light on gaps in our understanding of the policy options that work and those that work less well.

Can you say a few words about knowledge transfer and the role of public research in innovation ecosystems?

Knowledge transfer, in general, involves getting knowledge that is produced in the public research system into firms, government agencies, and even households, for them to use in socially or economically useful ways.

The public research system, which includes both universities and public research institutes, has always been essential for all countries. Historically, it has been a major producer of new knowledge, which firms have then taken up and commercialized.

The commercial potential of a great deal of knowledge and expertise in the public research system in many countries remains untapped.

The public research system has three main roles that are supported by government policy. First, to train and educate students, second to push the frontiers of knowledge through cutting-edge research, and third to support economic activity by transferring knowledge to the real world. The latter role has gained importance in recent years.

Within the public research system, universities typically focus on basic research and public research institutes focus on applied knowledge. But there are many different models globally to meet these two functions.

What are the potential benefits of knowledge transfer?

They are immense. So much of what we do in health, ICT, and mechanical engineering can be traced back to public research and is based on knowledge transfer.

Modern technological advances are increasingly science-based, and the...