The national system of innovation concept: An ontological review and critique

摘要

The construct ‘national system of innovation’ (NSI) is used to characterise a country’s collectiveefforts towards fostering technological innovation. Since appearing in the 1996 White Paperon Science and Technology, the term has been used widely in South African policy discourses.This study makes a contribution towards an increased understanding of the meaning andimplications of the NSI as a policy construct. The preponderant themes that emerge fromthis analysis underline the importance of fostering quality networks within the NSI. The NSIphilosophical framework provides a solid foundation for organising the country’s collectiveefforts in science and technology in a much more integrated and holistic fashion. Innovationpolicies and plans should aim to bring about synergy within the various elements of the NSI,particularly within small developing economies such as South Africa, in order to build robustinnovation-driven economies.