The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Self-destructive of Innovation Policy: a Policy Makers Guide to Crafting Effective Innovation Policy

By Stephen Ezell

Innovation is a central driver of economic growth. Thus it plays a key role in many countries' economic development strategies that seek to gain a global competitive advantage. Their focus on innovation creates both global opportunities and threats, since countries can implement their innovation strategies in either constructive or destructive ways.

Innovation Policy Counseling 2.0: How Open and Community-Based Innovation Processes Promote Political Decision Making

By Johannes Gadner & Hannes Leo

In 2009, the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development presented the national innovation strategy document "Strategie 2020" to the Austrian government. The strategy was the result of a rather unconventional development process, based upon the concept of community-based innovation and participatory decision-making approaches.

Carrots, Sticks and Tambourines: How Upper Austria became the World's Leading Solar Thermal Market

Since the mid-1990s, the government of Upper Austria has prioritized energy efficiency and renewable energy. Renewable energy currently supplies more than 33 percent of the total primary energy demand in the state. Over 10 million sq ft of solar collectors have been installed, with a target of 30 million sq ft of solar thermal collectors by 2030.

People in the Spotlight - an Interview with Beatrix Karl, Austrian Federal Minister for Science and Research

Before entering politics, Beatrix Karl was a professor of law at the University of Graz. While a scholar, she was also with the Max Planck Institute in Munich as an Austrian Academy of Sciences fellow. bridges spoke with Karl to discuss her policy plans and priorities in 2011 and beyond.

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