Data and the measurement of R&D program impacts

The purpose of this paper is to propose a research agenda for the measurement of economic impacts of Canadian government R&D support programs. Different methodologies and indicators used to assess benefits from government support programs/agencies for R&D are discussed first. Using available information on major business-related R&D federal programs, the paper will assess which indicators and methodologies can be implemented. The specific programs/agencies under investigation include: Technology Partnerships Canada sponsored by Industry Canada, Industrial Research Assistance Program sponsored by National Research Council, Atlantic Innovation Fund sponsored by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canadian Space Agency and National Defence.     

Technology adoption and training practices as a constrained shortest path problem

Technology adoption is not a new venue for research. Much work of decision modeling, diffusion of new technology and statistical analysis of survey data has been done. Some studies focus on finding the optimal forms of technology to adopt within a complementarity framework, but there is no mention of finding an optimal path from a firm's current state to its optimal state. This represents a significant gap in the literature. The paper applies a constrained shortest path problem to training and technology adoption decisions by firms. Given the current set of training and technology adoption the method solves for what technology/practice should be adopted or removed from the complete set of combinations and in what order so as to maximize performance subject to budget constraints. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first application of the constrained shortest path problem to technology adoption decisions.