Bridging the Innovation Gap
This Research & Policy Briefing outlines the main findings from the work carried out under the WMREDI/City-REDI. It explores the role of innovation intermediaries as a public policy measure in a specific territorial context
The organisational structures of the intermediaries condition their role as knowledge and capability brokers, with significant implications for regional innovation systems and policy design
We examine a particular type of publicly funded innovation intermediaries in the UK by analysing their organisational forms, knowledge re-configuration processes and geographical impacts. To compare the nature of two intermediary organisations, we develop and utilise quantitative “conventionality indicators”. This is supplemented by social network analysis and qualitative semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. The study depicts differences in the organisational structures and strategic choices of their activities - one organisation focused on novel exploration activities, while another focused on incremental exploitation activities with projects closer to commercialisation. Choices of organisational structures may be both path dependent and serendipitous conditioned by policies, funding and other resource availability. For regional policy communities, understanding of specific strategies of innovation intermediaries, their spatial collaborative patterns and innovation outcomes are essential when designing place-based innovation policies.
Call for Action:
- National policy design must recognise the diversity of intermediary structures and avoid assuming uniform approaches to innovation support. Policymakers should acknowledge that organisational structures condition the role intermediaries play in innovation systems. Some are better suited to unconventional, mission-led projects that push the technological frontier, while others are more effective in supporting incremental innovation and technology adoption for firms further from the frontier. Both types are valuable, and their complementarities should be reflected in innovation policy design. Regional resilience to innovation challenges can be built through fostering diverse intermediary ecosystems.
- Policies should promote diverse industry collaborations, recognising the value of unconventional projects that combine knowledge across sectors. This includes supporting organisations engaged in societal mission-led research as well as those focused on diffusion and adoption. Intermediaries themselves must communicate their strengths and visions clearly to create value as part of wider innovation systems.