Various countries have been collecting R&D data for more than 30 years on the basis of the OECD ‘Frascati Manual’ which sets forth a harmonised methodology for collecting, compiling and analysing the data. At this stage we need to come back again to some basic issues for two reasons: first,...

The article deals with benchmarking in the field of innovation in European countries. The concept of benchmarking is widely used at the firms’ level as well as in the field of research, innovation, knowledge. Experiences promoted by the European Union aimed at positioning the various countries...

The article analyses the R&D evaluation processes and procedures in Italian universities and public research agencies. It is argued that although recent changes introduced in the system represent a significant step forward, they are still insufficient to move from a bureaucratic to a more...

This article describes the results of a survey carried out in Italy on managers of research projects financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research. Interviewees provided information on the type of project (research, technology transfer and infrastructure building), its...

Some of the problematic issues in the measurement of innovation in the service sector are discussed, in particular the applicability of the definitions and methodologies set out in the OECD Oslo Manual on the statistical measurement of technological innovation, which was used in the recent...