Introduction

In a period characterised by increasing internationalisation and transnational political regulation the traditional role of national government in relation to industrial policy and technology policy is challenged. In this context it becomes important to understand which role the public sector has played in the past and can play in the future in relation to innovation and technical change within nations.

In many ways, the central role of the public sector in creating, maintaining and developing modern national systems of innovation is comparable with the one played by a pacer in a bicycle race. If public sector demand in both qualitative and quantitative terms races ahead it loses contact with the innovative capability of national suppliers. On the other hand, if public sector demand slows down too much, national suppliers may slow down their process of renewal and stick to pure routinising. As optimal pacing in a bicycle race requires a mutual understanding between the racing cyclist and the pacer, optimal pacing leading to an upgrading of national systems of innovation requires a mutual understanding between the public and private participants in interactive learning and searching processes.

In many countries the public sector actually tries to play the role of a pacer via technology programmes, public procurement policies, and so on. Sometimes it succeeds, and sometimes it fails or comes out with only modest success.