The Global Innovation Index 2012

Figure 4: Conceptual framework for GCC innovation promotion entities
private large
companies
SMEs
State-owned
companies
NGOs
civil
society
Businesses &
Society
policy advocacy
entities
strong links between the promotion
entities and operations.
GCC leaders across all societal
and economic sectors should cooperate
to ensure regional development
of the main drivers of innovation.
For example, the GCC has the
potential to create an alliance among
its economies that develops, attracts,
and retains employees with the correct
skill sets. Such an approach
would also prevent the GCC states
from crowding each other out at
this critical early stage of developing
their innovation ecosystem.
Finally, the most challenging
aspect will be to convene the myriad
stakeholders and leverage their abilities
through synergy. Promotion
entities will succeed when they
Science, Technology, & Innovation-related
policy Advocacy committees and Boards
Higher Education & research policy
(Ministries of Higher Education, Education Departments)
Academic research funding
(Government research funds, university research funds, other research funds)
policy entities
have created a common set of values
and norms and have forged a
culture that nurtures innovation
in the GCC. This is not a form of
economic nationalism. On the contrary,
by developing national talent,
the GCC countries can act as a
magnet to foreign firms seeking new
innovation hubs. A recent Booz &
Company study found, for example,
that one of the top cultural attributes
cited by successful innovative companies
is an attitude that is welcoming
to ideas from the outside.6
Linking innovation operations
The promotion entity plays a major
role in orchestrating the model at
the operational level. It ensures that
Economic policy
(Ministries of Economy, Ministries of Trade & Industry, Depts. of Economy)
Innovation promotion and r&D funding
(Innovation promotion agency)
universities research institutes centers of excellence & innovation corporate r&D
financial capital
(Banks, venture capitalists, SME support funds)
Overall Government policy
(Council of Ministers, Executive Council, Ministries of Labour, Regulatory Bodies)
Academic-focused research Innovation-focused and industry-driven commercial research
Operational or mainly
operational entities
physical capital
(Science & technology parks, industrial cities, business parks)
Other Enabling Operational Entities
(Investment promotion agencies, export promotion agencies, business facilitation entities)
businesses have the financial, physical,
and human capital to succeed.
This entails establishing dedicated
specialized bodies to focus on specific
businesses and industries, such
as aerospace or nanotechnology.
This means having a group with the
broad mandate of ensuring that these
sectors are coordinated both with
each other and with the national
policy.
For example, an orchestrated effort
can help a country focus and
maximize the effectiveness of the total
investments made in R&D. Advanced
countries—including Sweden,
Finland, and Japan—have a
dedicated entity that oversees funding
of innovation-based research
to ensure that companies are not
117
THE GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2012 5: The Role of Coherent Linkages