National Innovation Systems: A Comparative Analysis

"This book is a classic which will raise the discussion of comparative technology and innovation policies to a new level of sophistication in both description and understanding. It provides an indispensable conceptual framework for future debates over policies and strategies to enhance U.S. economic performance."--Harvey Brooks, Harvard University

"An admirably balanced examination of innovation in industry....As a collection of papers from different authors, the book is unusually coherent in its scope and analysis. It provides a wealth of information not just about technology policies, but about the institutional and cultural factors which influence each country's industrial performance....An important contribution towards more balanced discussion of high-tech issues and more rational government policies."--Financial Times

"Highly informative report on the systems for innovation."--Foreign Affairs

"It deserves a place on the bookshelves of business enterprises, operating R&D facilities both at home and abroad, university and college libraries, and academic and other researchers."--Journal of Product Innovation Management

"This work provides a succinct presentation of the innovation and technological development schema of many of the world's important economies."--Academy of Management Review

`admirable study of national innovation systems ... the book is unusually coherent in its scope and analysis. It provides a wealth of information not just about technology policies, but about the institutional and cultural factors which influence each country's industrial performance ... This book is an important contribution towards more balanced discussion of high-tech issues and more rational government policies'
Financial Times

`This book edited by Richard R. Nelson, is the culmination of a multi-author, multi-national project on national innovation systems and, as such is a superb achievement ... this book will become a classic study for anyone concerned with the world's scientific system. Japan is merely one of the countries under study.'
Anglo Japanese Journal

The quality of the project depended on a shared understanding of the concept which nontheless did not bind the contributors in a predetermined straightjacket. It was a fine balancing act, and in my view largely successful, with Richard Nelson as editor proving particularly adept on the tightrope. ― The Economic Journal