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Dilemmas of Practice-Based Innovation Policy-Making

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Practice-Based Innovation: Insights, Applications and Policy Implications

Abstract

This chapter discusses dilemmas that emerge when policy-makers are equally attracted to promoting concepts that are not based on evidence and to developing innovation policies that are evidence-based. It addresses nine dilemmas of innovation policies by discussing the following questions: What is the capacity of theories and new policy concepts linked to innovation to provide useful policy prescriptions to foster innovation? To what extent are these theories and new policy concepts supported by solid evidence? The chapter is based on a review of concepts and buzzwords linked to innovation, and the types of data and diagnostics used by policy-makers to develop new national and regional innovation policies. The chapter is also based on the consulting experience of the authors regarding the production of evidence-based diagnostics and derivation of policy measures at both the national and regional levels. The chapter defines policy issues in terms of dilemmas, it provides concrete examples, and it discusses how policy-makers could resolve the tensions between equally attractive policy alternatives.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    Réjean Landry (Full Professor) & Nabil Amara (Full Professor)

Authors
  1. Réjean Landry
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  2. Nabil Amara
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Correspondence to Réjean Landry .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lahti School of Innovation, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Saimaankatu 11, Lahti, 15140, Finland

    Helinä Melkas

  2. Lahti School of Innovation, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Saimaankatu 11, Lahti, 15140, Finland

    Vesa Harmaakorpi

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Landry, R., Amara, N. (2012). Dilemmas of Practice-Based Innovation Policy-Making. In: Melkas, H., Harmaakorpi, V. (eds) Practice-Based Innovation: Insights, Applications and Policy Implications. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21723-4_5

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