European technology policy evolution: convergence towards SMEs and regional technology transfer

Abstract

The paper briefly maps trends in public policies towards stimulating industrial technological change, from the largely uncoordinated ‘science policies’ and ‘industrial policies’ of the 1960s; to the more integrated ‘innovation policies’ of the 1970s; to the collaborative, pre-competitive research-based ‘technology policies’ of the 1980s. These changes were accompanied by increasing collaboration between government departments involved in the formulation and implementation of S&T policies. More recently within Europe (and beyond), policy emphasis has been on the technological strengthening of the so-called development regions, largely through the enhancement and creation of regional technology transfer infrastructures, and on intensifying efforts to assist the innovatory endeavours of SMEs. National programmes within Europe have been paralleled by programmes of the European Commission in Brussels.