International gathering seeks new ways to capture science, technology and innovation

Ottawa played host to an over-capacity conference of S&T statisticians and analysts last month to help determine what is required to develop meaningful science, technology and innovation (STI) indicators for a rapidly evolving global economy. While many in attendance contend that the gathering fell short of its lofty goals, there was consensus that the meeting was successful in establishing common ground and renewing cooperation for the challenges ahead.

Entitled BlueSky II, Statistics Canada hosted the event along with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the US National Science Foundation. Dr John Marburger opened the conference with an address that pinpointed many of the challenges of improving STI indicators and moving that knowledge from the statistical to the policy realm.

"We have lots of data, and we have some correlations, but we do not have models that can serve even as pedagogical devices for policy formation," said Marburger, science advisor to president George Bush and director of the US Office of Science and Technology Policy. "Without these, the challenge of defending a coherent pattern of actions to improve the framework is daunting."

Several key trends and data gaps emerged from the large number of papers that were presented over the three-day event. Some focused on the need to go beyond indicators for commercial innovation to those that track social and institutional innovation, while others emphasized the importance of gathering data on the output and impact of R&D, as well as its inputs. Human capital was also viewed as being a necessary addition to STI indicators, as it would provide a wider view of innovation and its linkages.

There were several calls for greater use of microeconomic indicators to complement macroeconomic data and enhance knowledge of social behaviour underlying STI. The result would be models that are highly valuable to policy- and decision-makers, who often underestimate the contribution STI indicators can make to increasing economic and social prosperity.

It is widely accepted that STI indicators are still in their infancy, compared to economic indicators - a reality Marburger says must change.

"I would like to have science policy tools that are so credible that their products are embraced by the advocates as well as the technocrats," he said. "I believe we can move the standards for science policy making and implementing closer to what already exists in the world of economic policy."

Dr Fred Gault, director of Statistics Canada's science, innovation and electronic information division, said the trend towards multi-disciplinarity in statistics is both a strength and a weakness and has implications that extend far beyond developed nations.

"We use different lenses, techniques and language. We are learning to talk to one another and that is perhaps the beginning of an outcome at this forum," said Gault. "However, it is almost entirely a discourse with developed countries ... If we admit an ethical or moral context to what we do, we must make our indicators accessible to colleagues in developing countries."

Gault added that once statisticians collaborate more with regulators, policy makers and cultural institutions, the result will be the development of frameworks which capture the big picture and a greater unity of purpose.

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