Policy Report
An analysis and reflection on collaborative interactions for the production
of new knowledge
Authors Iris van Hese (6886515)
Kim van Leussen (6745555)
Sjoerd van Loon (6955916)
Yara Langeveld (6733506)
Group 7
Course Innovation Policy (GEO3-2225)
Coordinator Dr. Gaston Heimeriks
Faculty Geosciences
Study Natuurwetenschap en Innovatiemanagement - Utrecht University
Date April 8 2022
1
,Table of contents
Introduction 4
Policy Analysis 5
Characterising MIT R&D collaboration projects 5
Analysing MIT R&D collaboration projects 8
Characterising Public-Private Partnership-project premiums 11
Analysing Public-Private Partnerships-project premiums 14
Policy Reflection 17
Disadvantages, challenges and risks of MIT R&D collaboration projects 17
Disadvantages, challenges and risks of Public-Private Partnership-project premiums 18
Improvements and complementarities 19
References 22
Credit statement 28
2
, Introduction
According to the Mode 2 framework, knowledge can successfully be produced by involving
transdisciplinary and heterogeneous actors (Schot & Steinmueller, 2018). This indicates that different
frameworks should merge together and there should be actor and organisational diversity, in other
words collaboration. By collaboratively producing knowledge, the interest of different parties can be
served and a useful, societal contribution can be made, thereby engaging society as an actor (Hessels
& Van Lente, 2008).
To stimulate different actors to collaboratively produce new knowledge through Research and
Development (R&D), two different policy instruments have been developed: R&D collaboration
projects and Public-Private Partnership project premiums (PPP-project premiums) (RVO, 2021a;
APMG International, n.d.). Both instruments aim to stimulate the production of new knowledge by
engaging different, multidisciplinary actors by providing them with a financial incentive to work
together in a partnership. However, there are substantial differences between the two. R&D
collaboration projects aim for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an incentive to
conduct R&D and therefore focus on the private sector (RVO, 2021a). On the other hand, PPP-project
premiums involve both private and public actors, but aim to increase private investments (Tweede
Kamer der Staten Generaal, 2021).
R&D collaboration projects and PPP-project premiums aim for the same goal, but achieve this
through different pathways. Therefore, a characterisation and analysis of both policy instruments will
be conducted, after which they will be reflected on. In this reflection, both instruments will be
challenged, possible improvements will be provided and alternative instruments are suggested.
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