OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook

OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook
Name	OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook
Publisher	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Country	France
Language	English language
First	1997
Frequency	Biennial

OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook is a biennial analytical assessment published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that surveys developments in science policy, technology policy, and innovation policy across OECD member countries and partner economies. The Outlook synthesises evidence on trends affecting national research systems, technological diffusion, and policy instruments used in jurisdictions such as United States, Japan, Germany, France, and United Kingdom. It situates those trends alongside geopolitical actors like China, India, and Brazil while referencing institutions including the European Commission, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Overview

The Outlook provides forward-looking analysis that links sectoral studies in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, renewable energy, and space exploration to national strategies in jurisdictions like Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Sweden. It addresses systemic challenges tied to actors such as the United Nations, G7, G20, and multilateral organisations like the International Monetary Fund by mapping indicators—for example, gross domestic expenditure on research and development in comparisons involving Italy, Spain, and Netherlands'. The report integrates perspectives from agencies including the European Space Agency, NATO, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Publication History

First issued in the late 1990s, the Outlook evolved from earlier OECD series that surveyed R&D performance alongside reports by the National Science Foundation and the Royal Society. Editions have coincided with major international milestones such as the Lisbon Strategy, the Paris Agreement, and shifts following events like the global financial crisis of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Contributors have included analysts formerly associated with institutions like the Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and national bodies such as National Institutes of Health and Max Planck Society.

Themes and Findings

Recurring themes include the diffusion of digitalisation exemplified by firms in regions like Silicon Valley, policy responses to dual-use technologies involving actors such as DARPA, and questions of research integrity raised by controversies in institutions like the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Harvard University. Findings often compare metrics from the OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators with datasets maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Eurostat, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The Outlook highlights shifts in patenting patterns tied to entities such as Samsung Electronics, Alphabet Inc., Siemens, Bayer, and Pfizer, and examines labour-market implications seen in cases like Tesla, Inc. and Amazon (company). It addresses policy instruments used in places like Finland, Israel, Singapore, and Switzerland to foster innovation, and assesses risks including supply-chain vulnerabilities involving suppliers in Taiwan and Vietnam.

Methodology and Data Sources

Methodology combines quantitative indicators from sources such as the Frascati Manual-aligned surveys, datasets from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, patent statistics from the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and bibliometric analyses drawing on databases like Web of Science and Scopus. The OECD also convenes expert panels including former officials from the European Research Council and advisers linked to projects at the Vatican Observatory and national academies such as the Royal Society (United Kingdom) and the National Academy of Sciences (United States). Case studies reference corporate reports from firms including Intel Corporation and Microsoft, and national strategic documents from ministries in Germany, Japan, and China.

Impact and Reception

Policymakers in the European Union, Japan, Canada, and United States cite the Outlook when designing instruments such as public procurement for innovation and tax incentives modelled on examples from Ireland and Luxembourg. Academic reception spans citations in journals linked to institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, Stanford University, and University of Cambridge. Think tanks such as the Chatham House, Centre for European Policy Studies, Peterson Institute for International Economics, and Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada reference Outlook analyses. Critiques have emerged from commentators associated with the Institute of Economic Affairs and scholars examining interactions between intellectual property regimes like those administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization and national practices in countries including Argentina.

Related OECD Initiatives

The Outlook is part of a suite that includes the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard, the OECD Innovation Policy Platform, and the OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators. It complements sectoral work such as the OECD Environmental Outlook and collaborations with bodies like the International Energy Agency, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Territorial Development Policy Committee, and the Global Science Forum. The report’s analyses inform initiatives connected to the European Green Deal, the Sustainable Development Goals, and multilateral dialogues convened at forums including the World Economic Forum.

Category:Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development publications