Systemic data infrastructure for innovation policy

Abstract

Progress on the vision laid out in the Science of Science Policy Roadmap requires a move to system level thinking and analysis in the study of technology development. System level analysis will require systemic data infrastructure. The need for such an infrastructure is increasingly explicitly recognized at the national level. This paper will review infrastructure efforts including previous US-based infrastructure, national research documentation systems used in systemic evaluations, the Community Innovation Survey in Europe, Lattes in Brazil, the NRC ranking of US graduate programs. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach will be compared, and key issues will be identified.