Approaching National Systems of Innovation from the Production and Linkage Structure

Studies of national systems of innovation (NSI) are often focusing on the R&D system. This chapter will argue that the less conspicuous production and sales/purchase activities are alternative and in many ways more adequate points of departure, also for studying aspects of NSI which are apparently quite distant from this starting point. More specifically, the claim is that by taking the production and linkage patterns of nations as points of departure a whole set of questions is raised and much can be said about the rates and directions of their innovative activities. Thus something can be said about the probable future state of domestic and foreign firms and the corresponding production and linkage patterns.