Innovation dynamics in OECD countries by technometric analysis

Technology trends of future significance cannot be reliably forecast. However, newly developed methods for detecting the technical opportunities of scientific research at an early stage create a rational information basis. The underlying principle is systematically collected data on the current situation regarding technological competition at an international level, the state of the art in sectors with a promising future ("technometrics"), industrial research and development expenditures and patent activities at both home and abroad. A synopsis of the various types of indicators generated from the data provides a consolidated and reliable picture of the innovation dynamics in industrialized countries, which can be put to use in terms of both individual enterprises or research institutions and the national economy.