Variation In National Innovation Policy and Performance - Ireland and Taiwan

• Main Authors: Robert Cook, 庫克龍
• Other Authors: Grace T.R. Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/57185172680556082198

碩士 === 國立交通大學 === 科技管理研究所 === 95 === The thesis seeks to compare innovation performance and policy in two countries that have had rapid economic growth in similar areas of their economies; Ireland and Taiwan. The literature review examines the nature of technological innovation, the role of innovation in economic growth, the NIS approach , innovation performance and policy. The discussion of context and economic development history of the countries shows different patterns. Ireland has had a history of failed government economic initiatives. The recent prosperity has mainly come from investment in various forms of infrastructure, structural reforms and low taxation; which has been used to attract FDI. Taiwan has a history of government controlled gradual industrial development with a focus on manufacturing. Unlike Ireland where outside MNC’s dominate industry Taiwan contains a large number of small companies and a few large indigenous companies. Comparison of innovation policy shows that the Taiwanese government using a more active top down approach, making use of substantial levels of government research funding and resources to develop target industries. In contrast to this is the bottom up approach of the Irish government that focuses on innovation environment and level firm R&D. The innovation performance of the countries is compared using a multi-factor model, key indicator being the ratio of US patents. The results show strong long term innovation performance for Taiwan and relatively weak performance by Ireland. Other factors indicate Taiwan has a stronger innovation capacity than Ireland particularly regarding R&D. Also included in the analysis are economic growth, industry growth and other contributions to economic growth. Which show that Ireland has exceedingly high levels of FDI inflow accounting for its recent economic growth. Differences in policy and performance are then analyzed. Findings show that geographical location and the recent increase in globalization played a major role in the differences. This is particularly true in relation to the role of FDI in Irish prosperity, which contrasts with the innovation based economic growth of Taiwan. The bottom up environment emphasis shown in Irish innovation policies and the top down interventionist policies of Taiwan, are shown to be based on historic growth and government development orientation as a result of these growth patterns. Strong Taiwanese innovations performance maybe due to the high priority of the innovation system, along with policies of research funding and targeting by the government. The weak levels of innovation in Ireland can be linked to the unsuitability of bottom up policies, weak university system and lack of a clear innovation focus.