Ray Lambert

The economics of accreditation

Abstract: Accreditation is an additional layer of assurance in a complex quality infrastructure. The role of accreditation has received very little attention from economists. This study contributes to filling this gap in two ways, by outlining a theoretical framework that positions accreditation within the wider quality system, and by measuring benefits from accreditation to businesses in the United Kingdom (UK). Key information comes from a survey of stakeholders of the UK Accreditation Services collected by the authors, which is used with data on the financial benefits to customers of the UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL). We conclude by suggesting that the value added by accreditation is likely to be of the order of several hundred million pounds, rather than of the order of tens of millions or billions.

Оpen and Closed Innovation: A Comparative Analysis of National Practices

This paper sets about identifying different and complex innovation practices across nine countries by exploring data from firm level innovation surveys conducted in nine countries: Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Our results suggest that innovating firms in these countries adopt one or more of the following innovation modes: 1) ‘new-to-market innovating’, 2) ‘marketing based imitating’, 3) ‘process modernising’, 4) ‘wider innovating’. The extent to which IPRs, external technology, design or marketing activities play a role in these innovation practices varies across countries. For example, in Austria, Denmark and New Zealand diffused technology (externally acquired R&D) is used together with own technology in bringing about novel products, suggesting a more open innovation pattern. In contrast, among firms in France, New Zealand and the UK we identify a greater reliance on IPRs (e.g. patents, copyrights and design registrations) while at the same time omitting externally acquired technologies. The latter may be interpreted as leaning towards a closed approach to innovation among a group of firms.