Evaluation of Sida’s Support to Innovation Systems and Clusters, a Research Cooperation Initiative [Main report]

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 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