Transforming innovation theory into innovation policy instruments - the Swedish case

Since the beginning of 2000, the Swedish government has promoted innovation by means of regional innovation systems (RIS). Just as long, there has been a debate about the transformation of innovation theory into innovation policy instruments such as RIS. In this chapter, this transformation is discussed in the light of a survey exposing that 75% of the regional innovation systems subject to public promotion in Sweden concerns two specific groups of industries: basic and manufacturing industries as well as industries based on new technology. Only 25% is linked to the services industry, even though Sweden – as an EU member state – has committed itself to contribute to the union’s position as world leading knowledge economy. This pattern implies that the transformation of innovation theory into innovation policy instruments is done in a manner that includes certain actors and areas while marginalizing others, especially women and industries employing many women. Innovation theory does not unanimously support this narrow scope of policy practice, however. A seed of change is to be seen, though, in a bottom up initiative to organize regional innovation systems with a broader spectrum of actors and areas. In this paper, this seed of change is interpreted as an alternative to a narrow way of transforming innovation theory into innovation policy instruments. It is argued that this example might contribute to different choices and design of innovation policy instruments such as RIS.