Abstract
Many public agencies promote renewal in the public sector through projects that require a productive combination of research and innovation activities. However, the role of research in innovation processes is a neglected theme in the public sector innovation literature. We address this gap through an analysis of five cases from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. We find few examples of innovations based directly on research, but several examples of research on innovations and on more complex co-evolutionary processes of the two activities. Research seems to be particularly important for the diffusion and scaling up of innovations. We find that research has an impact on innovation in later phases of the innovation process through the formalisation of practice-based and unsystematic knowledge, codification of experiences, and legitimation to ensure political support and funding. This new conceptualisation contributes to the public sector innovation literature and may help improve policies that set up a rather limited role for research.
Highlights
Research and innovation—separately and together—are major instruments for addressing societal challenges in Western welfare states
The relationship has been weakly conceptualised in the public sector innovation literature, and we focus on the link between the way research influences innovation processes and the role of research in different phases of innovation
Idea came from a review of relevant research; innovation developed and implemented by NAV; research used for measuring effects (RCT); further implementation depending on research results Research primarily used to evaluate and advise the development and implementation process; randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to test effects leading to decision to discontinue
Summary
Research and innovation—separately and together—are major instruments for addressing societal challenges in Western welfare states. Even if research is expected to make a societal impact, including an impact on innovation processes, this literature has repeatedly warned against simple linear models. The relationship has been weakly conceptualised in the public sector innovation literature, and we focus on the link between the way research influences innovation processes and the role of research in different phases of innovation. We conclude that the role of research as a clear source of ideas for innovation is probably exaggerated, while its impact on other aspects of innovation processes might be undervalued. These findings have important implications for science and innovation policies targeting the public sector
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