Title: Governing Science, Technology and Innovation: lessons from policy formulation and regulation in Denmark

Authors: Jens S. Jensen

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark

Abstract: As an object of public management, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is characterised by a high level of uncertainty and complexity. The paper argues that to cope with the phenomenon of STI as a coherent area of policy formulation and regulation, a balancing of rational-, reflexive- and responsive-regulatory-strategies is needed. Utilising this approach the Danish policy on STI is evaluated. The Danish strategy has been a strong centralisation of research and innovation in a single ministry. Despite reflexive-regulatory-strategies in certain areas, such as reforms of public research institutions, the potential of this regulatory approach is hampered by the lack of industry-specific analytical competences and the related single ministry concentration.

Keywords: meta-governance; new public management; science; technology; innovation; STI; policy formulation; regulation; Denmark; public policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSEM.2007.016524

International Journal of Services, Economics and Management, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.24 - 35

Published online: 07 Jan 2008 *

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