Measuring systemic problems in National Innovation Systems. An application to Thailand

The paper contributes to research on innovation systems in general and, in particular, to the current debate on rationales for innovation policy by providing a framework to identify systemic problems in a given system of innovation and test the framework empirically. The data were drawn from the Thai Community Innovation Survey in the period after which a major change in the country's innovation system policy had been initiated. By hierarchical factor analysis, systemic problems are identified and grouped into four components: institution, network, Science and Technology infrastructure and other support services. The analysis allows researchers to investigate the mismatch between policies and problems and identify policy gaps.

► The paper provides a framework to empirically identify systemic problems in a given system of innovation. ► The data used for the analysis is the Thai Innovation Survey. ► We identify four systemic problems: institution, network, Science and Technology infrastructure and other support services. ► The analysis allows researchers to investigate the mismatch between policies and problems and identify policy gaps.