SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY. Priorities of Governments

Transcription

1 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY Priorities of Governments

2 SCIENCE. AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY Priorities of Governments c. A. TISDELL Professor of Economics University of Newcastle New South Wales Australia London New York CHAPMAN AND HALL

3 First published 1981 by Chapman and Hall Ltd, 11 New Fetter Lane, London, EC4P 4EE Published in the U.S.A. by Chapman and Hall in association with.'\;[ethuen, Inc. 733 Third Avenue, New York, NY C. A. Tisdell Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1981 Typeset by Inforum Ltd, Portsmouth ISBN-13: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted, or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invehted, including photocopying and recording, or in al'y information storage and retreival system, without permission in writing from the publisher. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Tisdell, CA. Science and technology policy 1. Science and state 2. Technology and state I. Title 500 Q ISBN-13: DOl: / e-isbn-13:

4 Contents Preface Abbreviations 1 Basic Issues in Setting Priorities for Science and Technology Policy Introduction The need for government involvement in science and technology and therefore priorities Goals and variables to be taken into account in science policy Goals for technology policy Centralization vs decentralization, comprehensiveness and the specification of priorities Forecasting and priorities Critical views about the role of science and technology in economic development Critical views of government support for science and technology 23 Notes and references 26 2 Science Policy Options and Priorities 2. 1 Introduction 2.2 Education and the stock of knowledge 2.3 Research and development - general issues 2.4 Science and industrial policy 2.5 Import of science vs its local supply 2.6 Science and social policy 2.7 Research for defence and big science 2.8 Basic vs applied vs developmental science 2.9 Concentration and dispersion of R&D effort 2.10 Performers of R&D 2.11 Service science 2.12 Science and international affairs 2.13 Some concluding comments Notes and references IX XI

5 VI Contents 3 Technology Policy: Options and Priorities Introduction Links between science and technology and technology sequences Inventions Innovations Diffusion of new technology Replacement of equipment Domestic technology transfer International transfers of technology Environmental overspills and technology Employment problems and other social technology Observations aspects of Notes and references Science and Technology Policy in Large OECD Economies Introduction and background data 106 Federal Republic oj Germany 4.2 Articulation and administration of priorities in West Germany Selected features of German Science and Technology priorities 113 Japan 4.4 Articulation and administration of priorities in Japan Selected features of Japanese SCIence and technology priorities 123 United Kingdom 4.6 Articulation and administration of priorities in the United K~~m 1~ 4.7 Selected features of United Kingdom SCIence and technology priorities 131 United States oj America 4.8 Articulation and administration of priorities in the United States Selected features of American science and technology priorities 4.10 Some observations Notes and references 5 Science and Technology Policies of Small OECD Economies 5.1 Background

6 Contents Vll Belgium 5.2 Articulation and administration of priorities in Belgium Selected features of Belgian science and technology priorities 154 Canada 5.4 Articulation and administration of priorities in Canada Selected features of Canadian science and technology priorities 161 The Netherlands 5.6 Articulation and administration of priorities III the Netherlands Selected features of Dutch science and technology priorities 168 Sweden 5.8 Articulation and administration of priorities in Sweden Selected features of Swedish science and technology priorities Switzerland Articulation and administration of priorities in Switzerland Selected features of Swiss science and technology priorities Some observations 183 Notes and references Retrospect and Prospect The increased emphasis on priority assessment in science and technology policy Macro approaches to taking account of science and technology priorities Efficiency and science and technology priorities within sectors Changing science and technology priorities Why the trend towards co-ordination and explicit priorities in science and technology policy? Fundamental reasons Problems inherent in the basic trend Problems inherent in observed government priorities In conclusion 202 Notes and references 204 Index 206

7 Preface I was asked recently to prepare an independent background report on the subject of priority assessment in science and technology policy for the Australian Science and Technology Council. The Council (while not necessarily endorsing this book) suggested that a wider audience could be interested in the type of material contained in my report and kindly gave me permission to publish the material in my own right. The present book contains this and other material, some of which was presented at a seminar on National Science Policy: Implications for Government Departments arranged by the Department of Science and the Environment. Additional ideas were developed in response to comments on the manuscript by referees, as a result of discussions with Professor John Metcalfe and Dr Peter Stubbs of Manchester University, a conversation with Dr Keith Hartley of the University of York and in the wake of a communication from Dr Ken Tucker, Assistant Director, Bureau of Industry Economics, Australia. Science and technology policy affects and concerns everyone of us if for no other reason than we cannot escape in this interdependent world from the economic, social and environmental overs pills generated by science and technology. We must face the problems and promises inherent in new and existing science and technology whether we like it or not. Not surprisingly this book finds that all industrialized countries seem to be facing similar economic and social problems. Scientific and technological change on the one hand may add to these problems and on the other hand promises redemption from them. This poses the perplexing problem for communities of deciding on the best type of science and technology policy for governments to follow. What options should be considered and what priorities should be adopted by governments in formulating their science and technology policies? What priorities have been adopted in practice? The first three chapters of this monograph provide an analytical review of priority assessment in science and technology policy. The next two chapters report on the science and technology policies and priorities of nine selected OECD countries. Chapter 6 comments on broad trends in science and technology assessment in the light of the individual country reviews. In reviewing priority assessment in science and technology policy in the

8 x Priface selected countries, it has of course only been possible to give a general picture. Nevertheless, this type of picture seems appropriate for a broad comparative analysis of science policy. A reader wishing to avoid analytical detail (this detail is essential for appreciating the full ramifications of priority assessment in science and technology policy), might wish to be selective in browsing through Chapters 2 and 3; they should concentrate principally on the introductory sections. The reading of Chapters 2 and 3 should not be regarded as a prerequisite for following the content of Chapters 4, 5 and 6 but these chapters provide greater depth to the study. This is an independent study and the views expressed in it (and errors if any) are solely the responsibility of the author. But I would like to place on record not only my thanks to Mr Bruce Middleton, Assistant Secretary, ASTEC, for his assistance in providing me with access to source material and for his encouragement with the original project, but the general helpfulness of the ASTEC secretariat. I appreciate also the assistance with source material provided by diplomatic representatives of overseas missions in Australia. Without such assistance the study would be of diminished value. Mrs Lorraine King and Miss Elizabeth Williams deserve particular thanks since they typed the whole manuscript and their efficiency and pleasant nature made my task easier. My family was very understanding of my attempts to keep on schedule with this manuscript and this was of considerable assistance. Charlestown, 2290 Australia December, 1980 Clem Tisdell

9 Abbreviations ABRC AIST ACARD ARC BMFT CERN CST DFG DOD DOE EEC ERP ESA FFRDC FOA FRN GERD GOP GNP HEW IRIC JRDC LDC MEW MITI MOSST MPG MRC NASA NATO (UK) Advisory Board of the Research Councils Oapanese) Agency for Industrial Science and Technology (UK) Advisory Council on Applied Research and Development (UK) Agricultural Research Council (German) Ministry of Research and Technology European Organisation for Nuclear Research Oapanese) Council for Science and Technology German Research Association (US) Department of Defence (US) Department of Energy European Economic Community European Recovery Programme European Space Agency (US) Federally Funded Research And Development Centres (Swedish) National Defence Research Institute (Swedish) Council for Planning and Co-ordination of Research Gross Expenditure on Research and Development Gross Domestic Product Gross National Product (US) Department of Health, Education and Welfare (Canadian) Industrial Research and Innovation Centres Japan Research and Development Corporation Less Developed Country Measurable Economic Welfare Oapanese) Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Canadian) Ministry of State for Science and Technology Max-Planck Society for the Promotion of Science (UK) Medical Research Council (US) National Aeronautics and Space Administration North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

10 xii NERC NNP NRC NRDP NRDC NSF OECD OSTP OTA PPB R&D S&T SAREC SIDA SRC SSRC SST STA STEP STU TNO USDA ZWO Abbreviations (UK) National Environment Research Council Net National Product (Canadian) National Research Council (Japanese) National Research and Development Programmes National Research and Development Corporation (US) National Science Foundation Organisation for European Co-operation and Development (US) Office of Science and Technology Policy (US) Office of Technology Assessment Planned Programme Budgeting Research and Development Science and Technology Swedish Agency for Research Co-operation with Developing Counties Swedish International Development Authority (UK) Science and Research Council (UK) Social Science Research Council Supersonic Transport (Japanese) Science and Technology Agency (Canadian) Science and Technology Employment Programme National Swedish Board for Technical Development (Netherlands) Organisation for Applied Scientific Research US Department of Agriculture (Netherlands) Organisation for Advancement of Pure Research