Building an integrative framework for national systems of innovation

Purpose – This paper proposes a way to integrate three different analytical approaches into a consistent framework of national systems of innovation that can benefit academia and policy makers. The approaches include the traditional structural method of national systems of innovation, the new development of functional view of national systems of innovation, and the effective approach. Design/methodology/approach – As a theoretical research paper, the paper reviews and analyses intensive literature on national system of innovation from the perspectives of functional, structural, and effectiveness approaches. Findings – The paper argues that these three approaches reflect different perspectives of national systems of innovation. Instead of contradicting each other, they could be integrated into a coherent framework. Originality/value – The paper builds an integrative framework to bring different methods of national systems of innovation together. It provides an integrative framework for academy and policy makers to more comprehensively understand the concept of national systems of innovation and further policy design and implementation. Keywords - National systems of innovation, Structure, Function, Effectiveness, Framework, Policymaking, Innovation, Integration Paper type - Literature review