Innovation trapped in the benchmarking mechanism
Innovation trapped in the benchmarking mechanism

Summary/Abstract: Research objectives: The aim of the article is the analysis of innovation policy of OECD in the perspective of constructionist model of cognition. The research problem and methodology: The main problem of the article is to prove that the utility of the innovation system, currently deployed in dozens of countries around the world, determines excessively structuralist model of innovation policy. The applied research method is the case study of Finland and critical analysis of the literature studies of innovation. The process of argumentation: The reasoning process consists of three basic stages. The first is an analysis of the genesis of the so-called European tradition of innovation studies. The second is the reconstruction of the process of implementation of the national innovation system in Finland. There was made an attempt to identify certain social impact, including political mechanisms, of the construction of knowledge about innovation in Europe. There was also made a brief critique of the OECD system of internationally comparable indicators to measure innovation, presented by the organization in the “Oslo Manual.” Research results The reconstruction of the genealogy of the Finnish innovation system has shown that it is a tool extensively involved in the complex relations of power and knowledge. The analysis proved that it is unreasonable to assign the rapid economic development of Finland to innovation policy pursued by the state. There is also no legitimization to popularize the case of Finland as a model for other countries struggling with the problem of economic recession. The idea of innovation advocated as a remedy for increased competitiveness ignores the fact of unique historical circumstances that have played as important role for the success of Finland. Conclusions, innovations and recommendations: The utility of the national innovation system determines the structuralist model of innovation policy that marginalizes cultural conditions for innovative attitudes. The discourse about innovation should be complemented by the research from the humanistic perspective, mainly in the area of education for entrepreneurship.

• Details
• Contents