1 Mapping Innovation Systems: A framework for organising quantitative empirical research on national systems of innovation * Manuel Mira Godinho (ISEG, Lisbon and CISEP, mgodinho@iseg.utl.pt ) Sandro F. Mendonça (ISCTE, Lisbon, sfm@iscte.pt ) Tiago Santos Pereira (CES, Coimbra, and CISEP, tsp@ces.uc.pt ) Version 3.0. June 2004 Work in progress. Not to be quoted. Comments welcome. Abstract: This paper addresses the following questions: Is it possible to measure National Systems of Innovation (NSIs)? What specific technique may be used for that purpose? Can we apply that technique to both advanced and catching up economies? The paper presents the an exploratory exercise which was carried out with data from fourteen countries and it shows that satisfactory answers can be given to those questions. The method proposed does not entail the development of new indicators, but rather in the development of a method to encompass the different relevant dimensions to characterise NSIs. The main challenge for the quantitative analysis of NSIs is that such a method must be simple enough to be attractive and useful for policy-making purposes but must also be faithful to the relevance of different dimensions of a NSI and to their systemic nature. As such, the method must allow for the analysis of each NSI independently and not only in relation to ideal models. The mapping approach proposed allows for comparisons between different NSIs, in advanced and catching up economies, to detect strengths and weaknesses, to assess its temporal evolution, and to determine whether its development has been balanced or on the contrary uneven. The emphasis on intuitive data visualisation techniques makes this approach particularly useful for policy analysis. Key Words: innovation, indicators, national systems of innovation * Presented at “Globelics Academy 2004 - Ph.D. School on National Systems of Innovation and Economic Development”, ISEG, Technical University of Lisbon; “Economic Policies in the New Millennium”, University of Coimbra, Portugal, 16-17 April 2004; and “Innovation Systems and Development Strategies for the Third Millennium: The First Globelics Conference”, Rio de Janeiro, BNDES, 3-6 November 2003. Comments from discussants, in particular José Cassiolato and Bengt-Åke Lundvall, and from other participants at these meetings are greatly acknowledged. Remaining limitations are the authors’ responsibility. Further comments are most welcome.