Measurement in the National Innovation System: Theory Analysis of and Government's Roles in Enhancing Measurement Ability in China

摘要

Measurement is a typical infratechnology, which is widely used in the scientific research, technological innovation and other economic and social activities. It functions as a fundamental and supportive part in the national innovation system (NIS). At present, the laggard measurement ability has become an important obstacle to the innovation and social development of China. Therefore, it is urgent to enhance measurement ability, which has been set up as a strategic objective in the "National Guidelines for Medium- and Long-term Plans for Science and Technology Development (2006- 2020)".This paper studies the essential characteristics of measurement and its role in NIS from the economic and policy perspective. It is revealed that measurement activities play a crucial but often neglected role in NIS, because they are ubiquitous in the technology-based economic growth process, serving as a critical technical support for R&D, production, and marketing. Due to the economic and policy characteristics of measurement, there is a market failure in some measurement activities. To correct this market failure is the major rationale for the government to support the development of measurement system, along with the regulation requirements and strategic considerations.The measurement system is based on a standard platform, which consists of various metrology measurements, analytic measurement methods, instrument inspections, and regulation programs. There are three types of measurement: fundamental measurement, generic measurement and common measurement, each of which has different economic characteristics; thus the government should play different roles in the development of different types of measurements: 1) supporting fully the R&D and services of the fundamental measurements, 2) promoting actively the cooperation with and within the industries to develop the generic measurements, and 3) supporting nonprofit common measurements and building favorable policy environment for private common measurements. In China, the government hasn't played a competent role in support of generic and common measurements, which is one of the key factors of its backward measurement ability.The article concludes with policy suggestions to improve China's measurement ability.