This report responds to Sida’s request for a strategic evaluation of its
portfolio of innovation-related contributions to research cooperation. This request emerged in an environment of growing:
• Attention to innovation systems and clusters and their role in
developing and low-income countries;
• Recognition of the importance of innovation to economic growth
and poverty reduction;
• Attention to the role of research and knowledge; and
• Interest in the more central role universities could play in this
context
Author(s): Amitav Rath; Bitrina Diyamett; Mario Bazán; Fernando Prada; Francisco Sagasti; Andrew Barnett; Jacques Gaillard
Series: Sida Evaluation ; 2012:5
Publisher: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
Year: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 162
City: Stockholm
Abbreviations....................................................................................... 12
Executive summary ............................................................................ 14
The Portfolio................................................................................. 15
Sida’s Approach to Research and Innovation............................. 17
Lessons from Research on Innovation and Growth.................. 18
Highlights of Findings.................................................................. 19
Strategic Considerations.............................................................20
Recommendations.......................................................................20
1 Introduction .................................................................................23
1.1 Background.........................................................................23
1.2 Purpose...............................................................................24
1.3 Qualification ........................................................................25
1.4 Users of the evaluation.......................................................25
1.5 Scope and Organization of Report.....................................25
1.6 Acknowledgments..............................................................26
2 The Portfolio and its evaluation................................................28
2.1 Methodology........................................................................35
2.2 The Results Chain...............................................................39
2.3 Evaluation Design............................................................... 47
2.4 Data Gathering and Analysis .............................................50
2.5 Time Frame......................................................................... 51
2.6 Constraints and Limitations .............................................. 51
3 Innovation systems, clusters & Triple Helix ...........................53
3.1 Innovation in Sida Policy Context.......................................54
3.2 The Unit for Research Co-operation.................................56
3.3 Sustainable economic growth and innovation .................58
3.4 Technology, Innovation Systems and
Knowledge .......................................................................... 61
3.5 Knowledge Production and the Triple Helix.....................63
3.6 Universities: Knowledge and Innovation
Systems...............................................................................66
3.7 Clusters Initiatives..............................................................68
3.8 Summary of IS for Sida use in Poor Countries.................70
10
Table of Contents
4 Findings........................................................................................ 76
4.1 Concepts used .................................................................... 76
4.1.1 Sida – Research Cooperation................................ 76
4.1.2 Sida – other activities.............................................79
4.1.3 Other donor agencies ............................................83
4.2 Working with the Portfolio.................................................87
4.3 Sida Purpose and Hypotheses ..........................................89
4.4 Results – the Portfolio and its Elements..........................92
4.5 Hypotheses against Results............................................100
4.6 Additional Hypotheses and findings................................103
4.7 Other Sida questions ........................................................ 105
4.8 Program planning and evaluations................................. 107
4.9 Monitoring and learning................................................... 108
4.10 Usefulness of Framework to Sida....................................112
4.11 Gender................................................................................113
4.12 Factors for success and challenges ................................114
5 Conclusions.................................................................................116
6 Recommendations.................................................................... 127
Annex 1: Bibliography ..................................................................... 132
Annex 2: Glossary............................................................................138
Annex 3: Evaluation Team ...............................................................141
Annex 4: The Terms of Reference by Sida....................................145
