جایگاه در میان دانش: فناوری، نوآوری، کارآفرینی و مدیریت کسب و کار کوچک – چشم انداز سیاست  Standing at the crossroad of knowledge: Technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and the small business  management – Policy perspectives

Having considered funding, Maresch et al. (in this issue) consider the impact of a different form of government intervention – regulation of property rights through patent protection. This is an important area of study as earlier research has offered contradictory results on the benefits/drawback that patent protection offers inventors and firms. Through a consideration of 975 cases they find that patent protection offers the greatest value in instances of strong competition and fast time to market. The takeaway from this paper is that patents are clearly helpful if in place for products that are brought to the market quickly in emerging markets. As this is a study of firms that have been employing patents, the paper does not address the impact of patent trolls that have no intent in producing and/or selling goods and services. Ho et al. (in this issue) considers an approach to use personnel from public research institutes to assist in upgrading the technical capabilities of Small-and-Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) – The Growing Enterprises through Technology Upgrading (GET-Up) initiative. It is proposed that such an approach to technology transfer enhances and improves the industrial impact of public sector research. Results from surveys in 2005 and 2012 indicate that secondment has a positive impact on SMEs in regards to: technological capabilities, innovation performance and growth of participating companies. Case studies indicate this approach has the flexibility to address a wide range of challenges and to cater to specific needs and requirements. This approach suggests tremendous opportunity for government laboratories and institutes in other regions and countries. Aspanovich et al. (in this issue) contrast Science and Technology-based Innovation (STI) with Doing Using and Interactingbased innovation (DUI). While contrasting these two modes of innovation is widely relevant, Aspanovich et al. (in this issue) find that in the case of post-Soviet innovation environments, the DUI form has greater relevance. There is need to consider these two different forms in traditional market and developing economies and to consider the implications to policymaking. It can be argued that the finding of Aspanovich (in this issue) et al. have been implemented in the program considered by Ho et al. (in this issue). This raises the question of how and where best to identify programs and policies for obtaining further benefits – e.g. interaction between small firms and universities or government/small firm interaction as part of the public procurement process.