What indicators do (or do not) tell us about Regional Innovation Systems

Zabala-Iturriagagoitia,J.;Jiménez-Sáez,F.;Castro-Martínez,E.;Gutiérrez-Gracia,A.
Scientometrics

This paper analyses some of the methodologies and R&D and innovation indicators used to measure Regional Innovative Capacity in Spain for the period 1996?2000. The results suggest that the approaches examined are not sufficiently rigorous; they vary depending on the methodology and indicators employed.
Therefore, we would suggest that the right balance between quantitative and qualitative approaches could produce a better evaluation of innovation system performance which would be more useful to policy makers and other stakeholders.