1. Rethinking research approaches Echoes from the Netherlands Abiodun Egbetokun TIES, NACETEM 4 November 2009 1

2. OUTLINE Background Research in the 21st Century Exploring the state-of-the-art (key e.g.) Innovation (report content analysis) Entrepreneurship (report content analysis) QvoVadis? NACETEM (teamwork; encouragement; fairness/equity; research groups) You and Me (focus; research agenda; reading/studying; contacts; milestones; capacity building; openness/team spirit) 4 November 2009 2

3. Background NACETEM has the vision of being a COE in STI policy research/mgt Which will essentially be driven by A commitment to excellence High-quality staff World-class research output Global participation Local relevance 4 November 2009 3

4. And then… 4 November 2009 4 We always assume that people know whereas they don't - DG Research methodology is generally weak around here – General consensus???

5. Research in the 21st Century… So much gap in knowledge… Very much getting known every passing day… Knowledge production still skewed… Long way to go for us… Competition getting more intense… Horizon getting broader… 4 November 2009 5

6. Some Empirics 4 November 2009 6 …on the innovation strategies and capabilities of African firms in particular, little evidence exists...(EJDR Reviewer) …much scholarly work…have been carried out within the continent but the question to answer is: To what extent are these research works positioned for global impact?

7. Some Empirics: entrepreneurship 4 November 2009 7 22 November, 2008 Google: - entrepreneurship19,100,000 hits. EntrepreneurshipNigeria 772,000 hits (-96% ) EntrepreneurshipChina3,060,000 hits EntrepreneurshipSouthAfrica2,900,000 hits EntrepreneurshipSouth Korea 979,000 hits

8. Some Empirics : entrepreneurship 4 November 2009 8 22 November, 2008 ScienceDirect (about 2,500 journals, 6,000 books and almost nine million full-text articles; 7 of 10 top innovation mgt journals): - Entrepreneurship9,829 articles Nigeria in any part of the text: 324 articles entrepreneurshipin title and Nigeriain other parts of the article: 12 articles entrepreneurshipandNigeriain titles: 2 articles Most of these publications are not recent

9. Some Empirics: innovation 4 November 2009 9 22 March, 2009 Google: - innovation109,000,000 hits. InnovationNigeria4,780,000 hits (-96% ) InnovationChina24,000,000 hits InnovationSouthAfrica 12,700,000

10. Some Empirics: innovation 4 November 2009 10 22 March, 2009 ScienceDirect (about 2,500 journals, 6,000 books and almost nine million full-text articles; 7 of 10 top innovation mgt journals): - Innovation181,080 articles Nigeria in any part of the text: 3,209 articles innovationin title and Nigeriain other parts of the article: 66 articles Nigeria in the title and innovation elsewhere: 196 articles innovationandNigeriain titles: 7 articles

11. Summary/Implications of Empirics 4 November 2009 11 Nigeria, in particular, is under-represented in the literature There is a lot of opportunities

12. … & beyond this century… Research is all about… DEMAND DEMAND DEMAND 4 November 2009 12

13. WHY??? 4 November 2009 13

14. I have found that all ugly things are made by those who strive to make something beautiful, and that all beautiful things are made by those who strive to make something useful. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900, Anglo-Irish playwright, author, The Value of Art in Modern Life, 1884). 4 November 2009 14

15. NACETEM 4 November 2009 15 Encouragement Fairness/equity Teamwork Formalise research groups

16. YOU & ME 4 November 2009 16 Know your subject by reading, tutelage and study Learn to write/communicate: English and not EngliS! Learn to read and understand data (Hans Rosling Video) Contacts: you’re only as good as your network Capacity building Openness/Team spirit: the best things are done by TEAMS That’s why more people would watch Champions League than Grand Slam! FOCUS Evolve Research groups: no point standing out if you’re in the wrong audience

17. Are you a flash light ?... Very bright at the on set Travels far with white light Lacks focus and concentration When seen from afar can not tellwhether it is head lamp for bike, bus, truck. 4 November 2009 17

18. …Or an Infra Red Ray? Focused from beginning to the end You must be able to use your strength to mask your weaknesses. 4 November 2009 18

19. Simple Issues…Platform Impact 4 November 2009 19 Course coordination Photocopying Resumption and Closing Time Money

20. A Network Example: DIME 4 November 2009 20 DIME (Dynamics of Institutions and Markets in Europe) is a network of social scientists in Europe, working on the economic and social consequences of increasing globalization and the rise of the knowledge economy. DIME is sponsored by the 6th Framework Programme of the European Union. The network brings together a wide variety of scholars, for example from economics, geography, sociology, history, political science and law. DIME is a formal organization, of which over 50 universities or other public research organizations are members (and still counting). Most of the activities in the network are open to scholars from outside the DIME membership list.

21. A Network Example: DIMETIC 4 November 2009 21 Formed as ETIC by 3 institutions: UNU-MERIT, BETA (Bureau d'EconomieThéorique et Appliquée, in Strasbourg, France), and IKE (Institute of Production) at Aalborg University, Denmark. The focus: Research & Training in Micro approaches to innovation and innovation networks Geography of innovation and growth: theory, empirics and policy Modelling - Regional innovation systems, clusters and dynamics. Initially funded for three years, starting in 1997, by the European Union. Became part of DIME and the name was changed to DIMETIC.

22. An Institutional Example: UNU-MERIT 3 November 2009 22 UNU-MERIT's research programme is organized around five research themes: 1. Micro-based evidence research on innovation and technological change 2. The role of technology in growth and development 3. Knowledge and industrial dynamics 4. Innovation, global business strategies and host country development 5. The governance of science technology and innovation All researchers have world-class training; work in teams and attract significant funding to the institution. PhD students get monthly stipends, conference allowances and fee waivers. Major output include EU-funded European Innovation Scoreboard; ERAWATCH; Euregov http://www.merit.unu.edu/research/websites.php http://www.merit.unu.edu/research/

23. Test Yourself 3 November 2009 23

24. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE 3 November 2009 24