We combine an investigation of the macroeconomics of R&D policy with a study of innovative firms and the role of innovative individuals. We review the literature on the causal effects of public R&D funding and investigate its effects on the distribution of research labor between new and incumbent firms.
We identify the contributions of continuing, entering and exiting firms to changes in R&D activities, and we analyze the ways in which the R&D activity of start-ups and their access to finance is linked to innovation.
We analyse the characteristics and career paths of successful innovators, which will improve our understanding of the spillover effects of R&D. We consider the significance of skilled immigrant labor for innovation inputs (such as R&D) and for innovation outputs (such as product innovations). This will help to identify targeted strategies for maximizing the contributions of skilled migrants to innovation.
By providing new research-based recommendations, the project will help policy makers to promote innovation-led growth in Finland by improving the allocation of public R&D funding within the economy and the allocation of R&D employees between firms.
Etla is implementing the project in collaboration with The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE, which is responsible for the project.
